Biocompatibility and Functional Evaluation of a Novel Porcine-Derived Acellular Dermal Matrix in Primary Human Fibroblasts: a pilot in vitro study

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the biocompatibility of a porcine-derived acellular dermal matrix (ADM) with primary human gingival fibroblasts, focusing on cytoskeletal organization, DNA integrity, and proliferative capacity. Methods: : Primary human gingival fibroblasts were established in the laboratory from palatal tissue explants, then cultured on either ADM sections or polystyrene tissue culture plate (Control) under standard in vitro conditions. Immunofluorescence staining of Phalloidin (cytoskeleton), γ-H2AX (DNA damage), and Ki67 (cell proliferation) was performed at multiple time points to assess cellular morphology, genomic stability, and proliferative behavior. Results: : Phalloidin staining revealed well-organized actin filaments in both the membrane and control groups, indicating stable cell adhesion on ADM. Low levels of γ-H2AX-positive nuclei in the membrane group suggested minimal DNA damage, which declined further following the initial seeding phase. Ki67 expression remained comparable between both groups, confirming that ADM did not impede normal fibroblast proliferation. Conclusion: ADM demonstrated favorable biocompatibility in vitro, supporting a stable cytoskeletal network, efficient DNA repair, and physiologic proliferative activity in gingival fibroblasts. These characteristics highlight the membrane’s potential as a reliable scaffold for periodontal tissue-engineering applications, warranting further in vivo investigations to validate its clinical utility.