Scientists print most realistic bioengineered skin yet

A group of researchers have potentially achieved a significant advancement in the field of wound repair. Scientists printed skin that's more like real skin than ever before.

They tested it on mice and pigs and found that it helps wounds heal faster and with less scarring. This could eventually help people with severe burns to recover faster.

The skin is way more complicated than what we see from the outside — it has three main layers, each with its own unique structure. When we suffer from skin problems or get severely injured, our regular healing process may not be sufficient to fully bring back its normal appearance and function.

Temporary and permanent skin grafts, where healthy skin from another part of the body is surgically moved to the injured area, have helped save lives in cases of life-threatening injuries. However, these grafts typically do not perfectly match the natural look of the skin. In an ideal scenario, we could heal these injuries through a complete regrowth of damaged skin.

According to Gizmodo, scientists at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine think they might achieve significant breakthroughs by using bioprinting technology. This technology employs 3D printing methods to produce tissue-like structures that resemble natural tissue more closely.

In their recent study, which was published on Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine, they described the creation of their special bioprinted skin.

Bioprinting involves a combination of living cells, nutrients, and other biological substances to replicate tissue. In this situation, the researchers managed to produce bioprinted skin including all six primary types of skin cells, together with special hydrogels that served as a kind of biological ink. The mixture they created seemed to imitate the full thickness of human skin, including all three layers, which the researchers believe is a significant breakthrough that never happened in the past.

Afterwards, they tested this bioprinted skin on wounded mice and pigs. Throughout these animal tests, the bioprinted skin effectively stimulated the swift development of new blood vessels and healthier-looking tissue, surpassing the results typically observed with grafts. This eventually led to enhanced wound healing and reduced scarring.

Anthony Atala, director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, said in a statement, "Comprehensive skin healing is a significant clinical challenge, affecting millions of individuals worldwide, with limited options.

"These results show that the creation of full-thickness human bioengineered skin is possible and promotes quicker healing and more naturally appearing outcomes," he added.

Lab research and animal experiments serve as initial stages in demonstrating whether a possible treatment or medication can function as planned. Therefore, additional research, including human clinical trials, will be necessary before we can anticipate this technology becoming accessible to the general public. However, if this research proves successful, a form of such bioengineered skin might one day provide people the chance to completely recover from severe burns and other skin injuries.