Why Placental Tissue?
The use of placental tissues in wound care has been documented in medical texts since the early 20th century.1 These tissues encompass the placental disc, umbilical cord, amniotic fluid, and placental membrane (PM), all of which play a role in supporting fetal development.
There are three distinct layers that make up the native PM (amnionThe amnion layer is the innermost layer of the PM. This layer provides tensile strength and acts as a fibrous skeleton.2, intermediate layerThe intermediate layer exists between the amnion and chorion layers and is rich in collagens, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans, like hyaluronic acid.2, and chorionThe chorion layer is the outermost, and commonly the thickest layer of the PM. It contributes to elasticity and membrane stability.2). These three layers function together to create the ideal protective covering and barrier between the mother and the fetus.2 Each layer contributes distinct mechanical characteristics and components, such as proteins, growth factors, cytokines, enzyme inhibitors, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans, to the membrane as a whole.
Most placental membrane-derived products are single or dual-layer allografts (usually amnion and/or chorion layers). StimLabs developed the first allograft to retain all three layers of the membrane. While some delaminated tri-layer products have also been recently introduced, StimLabs has a unique patented technology that includes never delaminatingDelamination of the layers risks the removal of native components as well as key structural and functional proteins.2 the tissue during processing.
The Intermediate Layer 2
Located between the amnion and chorion, the native intermediate layer is a vital part of the PM containing over 900 regulatory and signaling components.*
Placental tissue encompasses all of the tissues which support fetal development, including the placental disc, placental membrane, umbilical cord, and amniotic fluid. Since the 1990s there has been renewed interest in utilizing these tissues as a valuable resource for regenerative medicine purposes.4
Expectant mothers undergoing cesarean deliveries have the option to donate their birth tissues for medical use. Ordinarily discarded as medical waste, birth tissue can instead be used to make an impact in wound and surgical applications. StimLabs employs rigorous donor screening and internal tissue approval processes to provide safe products that support better patient outcomes.
Human placental tissues have been chosen as biological wound dressings for decades due to their unique structural and biochemical compositions.4 Placental membrane allografts can act as a physical barrier, protecting the wound from external factors in the surrounding environment, or as a protective covering that shields the wound.
* StimLabs' placental membrane products are intended for use wound coverings, barrier membranes, or selective barriers.
1. Silini, A. R., Cargnoni, A., Magatti, M., Pianta, S., & Parolini, O. (2015). The Long Path of Human Placenta, and Its Derivatives, in Regenerative Medicine. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 3(162). https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2015.00162.
2. Roy, A., & Griffiths, S. (2020). Intermediate Layer Contribution in Placental Membrane Allografts. Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 14(8), 1126–1135. https://doi.org/10.1002/term.3086.
3. Data on file.
4. Roy, A., Mantay, M., Brannan, C., & Griffiths, S. (2022). Placental Tissues as Biomaterials in Regenerative Medicine. BioMed research international, 2022, 6751456. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/6751456.
