Whole-Cell Bioprocessing of Human Fetal Cells for Tissue Engineering of Skin

The 2009 document discusses the use of human fetal cells for tissue engineering of skin, particularly for wound healing. It outlines the limitations of current cell-based therapies and suggests that fetal cells could overcome these challenges due to their consistent biological properties and ability to heal wounds without scarring. Fetal cells can be expanded from a single donation to create large cell banks, are resistant to oxidative stress, and survive well under refrigeration and cryopreservation. Clinically, tissue allografts from fetal skin cells have shown effective skin repair without adverse reactions. The document also addresses ethical and regulatory considerations. In a clinical trial with 8 pediatric burn patients, constructs from fetal cells significantly reduced healing time and pain, with minimal scarring and no integration of donor cells into the patient's skin, indicating that fetal skin cells could be a viable off-the-shelf solution for skin repair.