Abstract

The methodology for the isolation of the living, intra-epidermal micro pattern using a tissue culture method is described. The disassembly of the stripped off epidermis (after Dispase digestion at 37°C) into epidermal brown rosettes (their morphology under a phase contrast microscope) constitute intra-epidermal micro patterns. The stepwise reasoning in the recognition of epidermal basal layer rosettes and the difference between the attached upright and inverted brown rosette spreading their content of epidermal cells onto a prepared extracellular matrix is disclosed. Mimicking the circular shape of the brown rosette layers via the use of a microscopic sterile, cornstarch granule (with the shape of a donut under the microscope) as a biodegradable, nutritional scaffold is proposed. A lightweight antibiotic ointment and the cornstarch granules were used together and this mixture’s significance in the guided tissue regeneration of the epidermis after Mohs surgery for basal cell carcinomas, as a treatment for second degree burns, and for possible healing of donor sites after skin biopsies is discussed.

Key words: Natural micro patterns, Mohs surgery, basal layer, tissue repair, epidermal-melanin unit, human epidermis, Cellular Potts Model, microscopic nutritional cell scaffold.