Simplified manufacturing methods for personalized skin substitutes in customized anatomical shapes

This technology is a simplified method for engineering 3D customizable skin substitutes using a 3D printed bioreactor.

Unmet Need: Accessible methods for manufacturing custom-shaped skin substitutes

Engineering human skin substitutes holds great promise as a therapy for over one million patients with skin loss from burns, pressure injuries, diabetic ulcers, or genetic skin diseases, such as epidermolysis bullosa. However, most commercially available skin grafts come as small, flat, rectangular sheets that must be sutured together to cover larger wounds. Although a method for creating custom-shaped grafts has been developed, it involves complex manufacturing processes that depend on external pumps, which limits its practicality.

The Technology: Simplified engineering for 3D customizable skin substitutes

This technology describes a method for engineering 3D human skin substitutes capable of fitting any part of the body, including irregular surfaces like hands or faces, without requiring complex manufacturing processes. A 3D model of the desired skin shape is created, which is then used to 3D print a bioreactor where the skin will grow. The bioreactor is filled with a collagen gel mixture and cultured skin cells, allowing the gel to set. Afterward, additional skin cells are cultured, and the tissue is exposed to air, promoting the formation of dermal and epidermal layers. This technology enables simple, cost-effective, and accessible methods for creating 3D skin substitutes, with widespread applications in burn treatment, trauma medicine, wound healing, regenerative medicine, and disease modeling.

This technology has been validated with mice hindlimbs.

Applications:

• Skin grafting
• Research tools for skin wounds
• Dermatological disease modeling
• Cosmetic testing
• Wound covering and tissue regeneration
• Training tools for medical staff

Advantages:

• Cost-effective
• Simple manufacturing process
• Customizable for any body part
• Personalized to the patient

Lead Inventor:

Hasan Erbil Abaci, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending

Related Publications:

• Pappalardo A, Alvarez Cespedes D, Fang S, Herschman AR, Jeon EY, Myers KM, Kysar JW, Abaci HE. “Engineering edgeless human skin with enhanced biomechanical properties.” Science Advances. 2023 Jan 27; 9(4):eade2514.

Tech Ventures Reference:

• IR CU24168

• Licensing Contact: Dovina Qu