Thermally damaged porcine skin is not a surrogate mechanical model of human skin

Abstract

Porcine skin is considered a de facto surrogate for human skin. However, this study shows that the mechanical characteristics of full thickness burned human skin are different from those of porcine skin. The study relies on five mechanical properties obtained from uniaxial tensile tests at loading rates relevant to surgery: two parameters of the Veronda-Westmann hyperelastic material model, ultimate tensile stress, ultimate tensile strain, and toughness of the skin samples. Univariate statistical analyses show that human and porcine skin properties are dissimilar (p < 0.01) for each loading rate. Multivariate classification involving the five mechanical properties using logistic regression can successfully separate the two skin types with a classification accuracy exceeding 95% for each loading rate individually as well as combined. The findings of this study are expected to guide the development of effective training protocols and high-fidelity simulators to train burn care providers.

Visualizing dynamic three-dimensional changes of human reticular dermal collagen under mechanical strain

“…Although porcine skin, the most appropriate substitute, has similarities in collagen and elastin content, large difference in tangent moduli exist with human skin [12]. Gallagher et al assessed mechanical properties of human and porcine ex vivo burn models and found porcine skin to be an inadequate substitute [13].…”

Mechanical behavior of full-thickness burn human skin is rate-independent

“…Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted on debrided and discarded human skin tissues until specimen rupture. The tests were carried out at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA within 72 h of excision, following the experimental protocol described elsewhere 28 . A summary of the protocol is presented below.…”

Vascularized 3D Human Skin Models in the Forefront of Dermatological Research

“…There are, however, differences between porcine and human skin pertaining to the elastic modulus, possibly caused by differences in elastic fiber and lipid contents. [10,11] Gallagher et al recently studied the mechanical properties of burned skin tissues from porcine and human sources and reported significant differences in modulus values. [10] This was attributed to differences in elastic fiber and lipid content as well as the ability to retain moisture at higher temperatures.…”

“…[10,11] Gallagher et al recently studied the mechanical properties of burned skin tissues from porcine and human sources and reported significant differences in modulus values. [10] This was attributed to differences in elastic fiber and lipid content as well as the ability to retain moisture at higher temperatures. [10] In addition, most drug testing assays are performed on thawed porcine skin, which has been shown to exhibit an abnormal increase in permeability.…”

“…[ 10 ] This was attributed to differences in elastic fiber and lipid content as well as the ability to retain moisture at higher temperatures. [ 10 ] In addition, most drug testing assays are performed on thawed porcine skin, which has been shown to exhibit an abnormal increase in permeability. This, in turn, can result in a substantial unpredictability with regard to drug penetration as well as discrepancies in the generated data.…”