Optimizing Timing of Autologous Skin Cell Suspension after Enzymatic Debridement of Porcine Burns: Evaluation with Digital Image Speckle Correlation (DISC)
Description
This dataset accompanies the study “Optimizing Timing of Autologous Skin Cell Suspension after Enzymatic Debridement of Porcine Burns: Evaluation with Digital Image Speckle Correlation (DISC)” and includes histological images, DISC-derived displacement maps, and quantitative force-propagation ratio (R) measurements from a porcine deep partial-thickness burn model. The working hypothesis is that successful wound healing is associated with restoration of biomechanical force transmission across the wound bed, and that this recovery can be quantified noninvasively using DISC. We further hypothesize that autologous skin cell suspension (ASCS) accelerates this biomechanical restoration compared with standard treatment, while a 24-hour delay in application does not significantly alter long-term outcomes when residual enzymatic activity is minimized through adequate rinsing. Histological data consist of H&E-stained sections collected longitudinally (days 7, 14, 21, and 28), providing information on re-epithelialization, collagen deposition, vascularization, and inflammatory response. These data represent localized structural snapshots of wound healing. In parallel, DISC measurements were obtained by applying a standardized mechanical indentation (~4 N) adjacent to the wound and capturing images before and at peak deformation. Using optical flow analysis, pixel-wise displacement fields and corresponding heatmaps were generated, providing spatially resolved maps of tissue deformation across the wound surface. A quantitative metric, the force-propagation ratio (R), was derived as the fraction of wound area exhibiting displacement above a threshold (1/e of peak displacement), normalized to uninjured skin (100%). Lower R values indicate poor mechanical connectivity and stiffness, whereas higher values reflect restoration of tissue continuity and compliance. Notably, DISC measurements parallel histological remodeling while providing a noninvasive, full-field assessment that captures spatial heterogeneity and functional recovery not accessible through biopsy-based methods. Conventional clinical and histological scoring systems show higher variability and reduced sensitivity to these changes.