The research by scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute marks a significant breakthrough in tissue engineering, as they 3D-printed hair follicles within human skin tissue cultured in a lab.
The study reports the successful use of 3D bioprinting to integrate hair follicles into engineered skin tissues. This was achieved by printing spheroids formed from dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and human umbilical vein cells (HUVECs) within a pre-gelled dermal layer that contained fibroblasts. The maturation of this tissue led to the development of structures resembling hair follicles, facilitated by the migration of keratinocytes and melanocytes.
The development of these reconstructed skin models, with their increased complexity and better replication of native adnexal structures, has significant potential in regenerative medicine. They can also be used as more effective models for testing the safety of chemical compounds, marking a substantial advancement in the field.
Ref: Carolina Motter Catarino, Desirée Cigaran Schuck, Lexi Dechiario, Pankaj Karande. Incorporation of hair follicles in 3D bioprinted models of human skin. Science Advances. 2023;9(41). doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adg0297
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