A Perfusable Vascularized Full-Thickness Skin Model for Potential Topical and Systemic Applications
May 2021
in “
Biofabrication
”
TLDR The study created a skin model with realistic blood vessels that improves skin grafts and testing for drug delivery.
Our study developed a perfusable vascularized full-thickness skin equivalent with a complex blood vasculature to enhance the functionality and viability of skin grafts and the relevance of in vitro applications. This model includes a differentiated epidermis with correct protein expression, three perfusable vascular channels with angiogenic sprouts, and an adjacent microvascular network. Histological analysis confirmed the integrity of the vascular constructs. We validated the model's potential for topical and systemic applications by testing the permeability of caffeine and minoxidil and the systemic delivery of the pollutant benzo[a]pyrene. The results showed that the perfusion of skin constructs and the presence of a complex vascular plexus provided a more predictive model for assessing drug delivery, which could benefit drug discovery and clinical translation in dermatology.
