Skin is a complex organ of many distinct layers, in which different cell types and structures interact to maintain function and ability to regenerate. Creating a skin-like structure is one thing, but introducing sweat glands, hair follicles, and other complex features is quite another. Still, the accessibility of skin and the frequency of serious injuries that remove large sections of skin makes the skin a good testbed for the development of improved bioprinting techniques that are capable of inserting complex small-scale structures, manufacturing the different layers of skin, and that can be used in situ, directly printing into the injured area. If complex features of skin can be assembled via 3D printing and proven in the clinic, then it is the hope that the techniques involved can be adapted for the regenera…
Towards Better Bioprinted Skin, Created and Applied During Surgery
Skin is a complex organ of many distinct layers, in which different cell types and structures interact to maintain function and ability to regenerate. Creating a skin-like structure is one thing, but introducing sweat glands, hair follicles, and other complex features is quite another. Still, the accessibility of skin and the frequency of serious injuries that remove large sections of skin makes the skin a good testbed for the development of improved bioprinting techniques that are capable of inserting complex small-scale structures, manufacturing the different layers of skin, and that can be used in situ, directly printing into the injured area. If complex features of skin can be assembled via 3D printing and proven in the clinic, then it is the hope that the techniques involved can be adapted for the regenera…