3D Printing of Skin Equivalents with Hair Follicle Structures and Epidermal-Papillary-Dermal Layers Using Gelatin/Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels
August 2022
in “
Chemistry - an Asian journal
”
3D printing skin equivalent hair follicle structures epidermal layer papillary dermal layer gelatin methacryloyl hyaluronic acid methacryloyl GelMA HAMA bioink extracellular matrix cytocompatibility hair-inductive potency hair pore development skin tissue engineering skin regeneration skin model hair follicles epidermis dermis ECM biocompatibility hair growth skin engineering skin repair
TLDR Scientists created a 3D printed skin that includes hair and layers similar to real skin using a special gel.
This study presents the development of a 3D printed skin equivalent that includes hair follicle structures and layers of epidermal and papillary dermal tissue. The researchers used a bioink made from gelatin methacryloyl and hyaluronic acid methacryloyl (GelMA/HAMA) to mimic the composition of a native extracellular matrix and the properties of the cells within it. The GelMA/HAMA bioink demonstrated excellent viscoelastic and physicochemical properties, 3D printability, cytocompatibility, and the ability to maintain hair-inductive potency while facilitating spontaneous hair pore development. The findings suggest that GelMA/HAMA hydrogels are promising materials for the 3D printing of skin equivalents and could be useful models for skin tissue engineering and regeneration.
