This technology is an anatomically accurate substitute for damaged skin created using casting of natural components through microfabrication.
Existing skin substitutes use conventional bulk processing methods to fabricate collagen-based scaffolds, which results in products lacking the anatomical properties of natural skin. A more natural substitute with precise pore structure and the capability for vascularization would promote rapid regrowth, enhancing wound healing and the treatment of burns and other skin abnormalities.
This technology uses a microfluidic device, which acts as a microreactor for the construction of multiple cellular and extracellular components to create a skin substitute. As opposed to existing technologies, the tissue scaffold generated by this microfabrication approach possesses the natural components of skin tissue including well-defined pores of known sizes. Moreover, the skin generated by this technology can incorporate natural components such as blood vessels, adnexal structures, and melanocytes, which will further accelerate regrowth of damaged tissue after grafting.
This technology has been used to create complex collagen scaffolds for skin grafts in vitro.
IR 2297
Licensing Contact: Beth Kauderer