This technology is a simplified engineering method for 3D customizable skin substitutes using a 3D printed bioreactor.
Engineering human skin substitutes is a promising therapy that benefits over one million patients suffering from skin loss caused by burns, pressure injuries, diabetic ulcers, or genetic skin diseases. However, most commercially available skin grafts are small, flat, rectangular sheets that need to be sutured together to cover larger wounds. While a method for producing custom-shaped grafts has been developed, it relies on complex manufacturing processes that require external pumps, limiting its practicality.
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, comprising two medium chambers and a porous scaffold, 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 potential applications in burn treatment, trauma medicine, wound healing, regenerative medicine, and disease modeling.
This technology has been validated with mouse hindlimbs.
Patent Pending (WO/2025/5155899)
IR CU24168
Licensing Contact: Dovina Qu
