Modified microbially-produced cellulose gel with human epidermal cells adsorbed thereon for use as a skin graft or vulnerary cover

A skin graft or vulnerary cover for external wound surfaces, which comprises a complex of a water-containing gel of modified microbially-produced cellulose with human cells bonded to or adsorbed in said gel, said human cells consisting of human epidermal cells, said human epidermal cells being cultured substantially in a monolayer state on the water-containing gel form of the modified microbially-produced cellulose, wherein:

• 1) an animal cell adhesive protein is physically or chemically bonded to the modified microbially-produced cellulose, or
• 2) said cellulose contains hydroxyl groups, wherein at least a portion of the hydrogen atoms of the hydroxyl groups are substituted with a positively or negatively charged group, or
• 3) an animal cell adhesive protein is physically or chemically bonded to the modified microbially-produced cellulose, and the cellulose contains hydroxyl groups, wherein at least a portion of the hydrogen atoms of the hydroxyl groups are substituted with a positively or negatively charged group,
• wherein the positively charged group has the formula (I) or (II):
• ##STR2## wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 8, and R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl, cycloalkyl or alkoxyalkyl group, with the proviso that R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are not a hydrogen atom simultaneously;
• and
• wherein the negatively charged group is selected from the group consisting of a carboxy methyl group, a carboxy ethyl group, a phosphoric acid group and a sulfuric acid group.