Non-cultured melanocyte rich epidermal cell suspensions may be made up from epidermis removed from a donor area.  These cells are grafted directly onto denuded epidermis in a vitiligo area.  Although this procedure is been performed to a limited extent in South Africa, the lack of a dedicated facility means that it cannot be offered on a commercial basis.

 

Technique of Non-cultured grafting

 

• A thin graft is taken from the outer thigh.

• The graft is placed in a petri dish to which trypsin is added.

• After one hour, the graft is scraped to release melanocytes.

• The trypsin is washed with PBS solution

• The fluid is centrifuged. Melanocytes collect at the bottom of the test tube

• The melanocytes are collected and grafted onto vitiligo sites which are prepared with a dermabrader to remove the white coloured epidermis.