Engineering a 3D Wounded Skin Equivalent to Study Early Inflammatory and Regenerative Responses In Vitro

The study presents a three-dimensional wounded skin equivalent (3DWoundSE) as a more physiologically relevant in vitro model for studying wound healing, addressing limitations of traditional 2D cultures and animal models. The 3DWoundSE replicates key wound responses, such as increased lactate dehydrogenase and apoptosis-inducing factor expression, dynamic proliferation changes, and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines. It offers a reproducible and ethical alternative to animal models, with applications in dermatological research, drug development, and therapeutic screening. While it provides a human-relevant platform for preclinical testing, limitations include the use of non-human collagen and the absence of skin appendages. Future improvements could involve disease-specific modifications and the incorporation of immune cells and microfluidic platforms.