Melanocytes from the Outer Root Sheath of Human Hair and Epidermal Melanocytes Display Improved Melanotic Features in the Niche Provided by cGEL, Oligomer-Cross-Linked Gelatin-Based Hydrogel
July 2016
in “
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A
”
TLDR cGEL hydrogel improves melanin production in skin cells, making it a promising option for skin treatments.
The study explored the use of a hydrogel named cGEL as a potential carrier for human melanocytes derived from the outer root sheath of hair follicles (HUMORS) and normal human epidermal melanocytes (NHEM) for non-invasive treatments of depigmented skin disorders. cGEL, an enzymatically degraded bovine gelatin cross-linked with an oligomeric copolymer, provided a superior three-dimensional cultivation environment compared to other materials like Collagen Cell Carrier® and polycaprolactone matrices. It significantly increased melanin production and enhanced the expression of melanotic genes PAX3, PMEL, TYR, and MITF, suggesting that cGEL could be a promising candidate for grafting carriers in skin transplantation procedures.
