Bioprinted skin ever closer to human skin
After six years of research in collaboration with Professor Dalton’s teams, of the University of Oregon, L’Oréal R&I developed a reconstructed skin model even closer to human skin. The two entities’ teams managed to combine a 3D printing technique called MEW (Melt ElectroWriting) with traditional artificial skin culture processes to shape up reconstructed skin with functional, living, interacting epidermis and dermis. The model’s main strength lies in its ability to recreate an extracellular matrix (ECM) structure that is even more sophisticated and representative of the human skin, thus providing cultured cells an even more friendly and “real” environment to grow.
In addition to recreating better cell culture conditions than those provided by previously available models, this innovation can be customized: it makes it possible to sow different cell types – keratinocytes, fibroblasts, melanocytes – in specially developed extracellular matrices which, for example, can mimic skins of different ages. Other than greater accuracy, this technology offers the possibility to work on extremely diverse reconstructed skins.
Going beyond traditional models
Standard reconstructed skin models are based on skin cell culture in matrices that mimic the human skin structure. Until recently, these traditional models were considered highly-performing, although it was not possible to recreate ECMs as well structured as human skin’s. As a consequence, if cells managed to grow, the conditions were less friendly and representative than the human skin’s.
In addition to this limit, the cells needed 21 to 50 days to grow. This long growing time, compared with the 28-day cell renewal time, limited the scope of certain experiments.
Hybrid multidisciplinary know-how
A 3D printing expert, Professor Dalton of the University of Oregon, who developed MEW 3D printing, enhanced the technique, and revolutionised the reconstructed skin sector with a new biocompatible printing polymer that can create extremely thin, precise fibrillar structures comparable to those of collagen fibres in the human ECM.
Until then, no 3D printing technique had been able to offer such fine structures. With this polymer, MEW 3D printing helps recreate cell culture conditions that are even closer to human skin’s.
Prospects of a new shared science
The next challenge for Professor Dalton’s teams consists in enhancing the reproducibility of the model for reliable standardisation and large-scale use.
By making it possible to develop customizable models ever closer to human skin, this innovation offers most diverse application possibilities. With a standardised process, researchers will be able to study cell interactions, structural skin modifications, or how specific markers change over time.
Eventually, this model can become a key fundamental research tool in dermocosmetics when it comes to studying the impact of environmental factors on skin ageing, but not only. “The results we will obtain with these models will provide more data which we will be able to combine with others. AI will then help us go even further,” explains Valérie Michaut, Director of Predictive Technologies of L’Oréal.
Beyond cosmetics, this new generation of reconstructed skins paves the way for a major therapy alternative for patients suffering severe burns and in need for major skin transplants.
