An Improved and Rapid Method to Construct Skin Equivalents from Human Hair Follicles and Fibroblasts

The study presented a rapid, easy, and cost-effective method to construct three-dimensional skin equivalents (SE) using human dermal fibroblasts, collagen, and freshly plucked hair follicles. The process involved polymerizing acidic liquid collagen with sodium hydroxide in the presence of fibroblasts to form a dermal equivalent (DE). Hair follicles were implanted into the DEs, and within 14 days, keratinocytes from the hair follicles formed a fully developed, multi-layered, and cornified epidermis. Histological and immunofluorescence analyses confirmed the similarity of these SEs to normal human skin. The method showed potential for autologous transplantation, reducing the risk of transplant rejection.