Source: Article published in Science Advances: DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade2514

Gifting an odd-shaped present can be a challenge, but imagine the difficulties that surgeons face when it comes to grafting artificial skin onto an injured body part. Engineered skin is typically flat, like wrap paper and can be difficult to stitch around irregularly shaped areas, as injuries usually appear. However, bioengineers at Columbia University have come up with a solution to this problem that was recently published in Science Advances. They have developed a method to grow engineered skin in 3D shapes, making it possible to create seamless skin grafts that can be easily applied to the body.

The process begins with a 3D laser scan of the target body part, followed by the creation of a permeable mold using computer-aided design and 3D printing. The mold is then seeded with skin cells, coated with a mixture of skin cells and growth media, and left to develop for three weeks. In a test, human skin cell constructs were grafted onto mice with successful integration and full limb function. This new method of creating skin grafts represents a major redesign since their introduction in the 1980s and offers improved composition, structure, and strength compared to conventional pieced-together grafts.

This breakthrough in skin grafting technology has the potential to greatly improve the outcome of surgeries. According to the lead developer, Dr. Hasan Erbil Abaci, assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, three-dimensional skin constructs that can be transplanted as “biological clothing” would reduce the need for suturing, shorten the length of surgeries, and improve aesthetic outcomes. The continuous 3D grafts also have better mechanical and functional properties compared to conventional pieced-together grafts.

In the future, Dr. Abaci envisions that grafts could be custom-made from a patient’s own cells. With only a 4X4 mm skin sample, enough cells can be cultured and multiplied to create enough skin to cover a human hand. He also believes that these wearable skin constructs could be used for face transplants, offering patients a personalized alternative to cadaver transplants.

In conclusion, the development of 3D engineered skin by the researchers at Columbia University is a major step forward in skin grafting technology. It has the potential to improve the outcome of surgeries, reduce the need for suturing, and offer patients a personalized alternative to cadaver transplants. Although clinical trials on humans are still years away, the future looks promising for those in need of skin grafts.