Three-Dimensional Histological Structures of the Human Dermis
March 2015
in “
Tissue Engineering Part C Methods
”
TLDR 3D images of skin show collagen is evenly spread, but elastic fibers are fewer near hair follicles.
The study aimed to enhance the understanding of skin microstructures by generating 3D images of the human dermis using collagen/elastin-based models, which could aid in developing bionic engineered skin. The research involved analyzing skin samples to assess the distribution of collagen and elastic fibers, revealing fewer elastic fibers near hair follicles compared to areas further away, while collagen fibers were evenly distributed. Both fiber types were less abundant near the epidermis and hypodermis. The study also measured the porosity, pore diameters, and wall thickness of the human acellular dermal matrix (ADM) using micro-CT, finding a porosity of 68.3%±5.8%, a mean pore diameter of 131.2±96.8 μm, and a wall thickness of 207.2±251.7 μm. This research was the first to present 3D histological structures of the skin, potentially benefiting future skin engineering efforts.
