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We may soon have access to a mobile bio-printer that can be filled with a patient's bedside cells and print new skin for major wounds and burns.
Scientists at the Wake Forest Institute (WFIRM) for Regenerative Medicine have created such a mobile skin bioprinting system – the first of its kind – to directly print bilayer skin on a wound.
"The unique aspect of this technology is the mobility of the system and the ability to manage extensive wounds on the spot by scanning them and measuring them to drop the cells directly to where they are needed to create skin, "said Sean Murphy. a WFIRM assistant professor who was the lead author of the paper published this month in Scientific reports of nature newspaper.
Large, chronic or non-healing wounds (such as diabetic ulcers) affect millions of Americans and are particularly expensive because they often require multiple treatments. It is also estimated that burns account for 10 to 30% of combat casualties in the conventional war for military personnel.
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The main skin cells – dermal fibroblasts and epidermal keratinocytes – are easily isolated from a small biopsy of uninjured tissue and are then expanded. Fibroblasts are cells that synthesize the extracellular matrix and collagen that play a critical role in wound healing, while keratinocytes are the predominant cells in the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin.
The cells are mixed in a hydrogel and placed in the bio-printer. An integrated imaging technology including a wound analysis device then inserts the data into the software to indicate to the print heads the cells to be transmitted exactly where in the wound, layer per layer. The bio-printer deposits the cells directly into the wound, thereby replicating the layered skin structure and accelerating the formation of a normal skin structure and function.
The researchers demonstrated the proof of concept of the system by printing the skin directly on preclinical models.
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The next step is to conduct a clinical trial in humans. Currently, skin grafts for treating wounds and burns are the "standard" technique, but adequate coverage of wounds is often a challenge, especially when the availability of healthy skin for harvest is limited. Donor skin grafts are an option, but they risk immune rejection of the graft and scar formation.
"This technology could eliminate the need for painful skin grafts that further disfigure patients with major wounds or burns," said Anthony Atala, director of WFIRM, and co-author of the paper. "A mobile bioprinter that can handle extensive wounds locally could help accelerate the delivery of care and reduce costs for patients."
"If you pass the patient's cells, they actively contribute to wound healing by getting organized so that the healing process starts more quickly," said James Yoo, who led the research team and co-author. of the document. "While there are other types of wound healing products available to treat wounds and help them close, these products do not actually contribute to the creation of the skin."
(Source: Wake Forest, WFIRM)
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