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Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have made a groundbreaking achievement by 3D printing living human skin tissue directly onto open wounds in rats. This pioneering method could significantly advance reconstructive facial surgery and human hair treatments.
Traditional techniques, such as skin grafts from other body parts, often yield less-than-ideal results. “Reconstructive surgery to correct trauma to the face or head from injury or disease is usually imperfect, resulting in scarring or permanent hair loss,” explained Ibrahim Ozbolat, a Penn State engineering professor and lead author of a study published in Bioactive Materials.
Building on previous 3D bioprinting experiments, the researchers have successfully repaired damaged tissue using a novel approach that prints the bottom and middle skin layers (hypodermis and middle dermis), allowing the top layer (epidermis) to naturally form over time.
“We demonstrate bioprinted, full-thickness skin with the potential to grow hair in rats,” Ozbolat noted. “This brings us closer to achieving more natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing head and face reconstruction in humans.”
The bioink used by the team comprises proteins and stem cells from human fat tissue, along with a clotting solution to bind the components at the injury site. Within two weeks, the epidermis formed atop the 3D-printed layers, with the hypodermis showing early signs of hair follicle formation.
“We believe this technique could be transformative in dermatology, hair transplants, and plastic and reconstructive surgeries, resulting in more aesthetic outcomes,” said Ozbolat.
The team recently secured a patent for their bioprinting technique from the US Patent and Trademark Office. Although human trials are still a distant goal, the promising results suggest this approach could revolutionize reconstructive surgery.