What is Apligraf?
Apligraf is living cell based product for chronic venous leg ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers. Apligraf is supplied as a living, bi-layered skin substitute.
Like human skin, Apligraf consists of living cells and structural proteins. The lower dermal layer combines bovine type 1 collagen and human fibroblasts (dermal cells), which produce additional matrix proteins. The upper epidermal layer is formed by promoting human keratinocytes (epidermal cells) first to multiply and then to differentiate to replicate the architecture of the human epidermis. Unlike human skin, Apligraf does not contain melanocytes, Langerhans' cells, macrophages, and lymphocytes, or other structures such as blood vessels, hair follicles or sweat glands.
Apligraf is supplied as a circular disc approximately 75 mm in diameter and 0.75 mm thick.
Apligraf is the only living, bi-layered cell based product FDA approved to heal both Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Venous Leg Ulcers.