Reproduced organ with hypodermis can be used in wound and burn treatments as well as in reducing animal testing
The construction of an artificial skin developed by a researchers’ team from the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) was featured in Communications Biology, a Nature group’s journal, which detailed its manufacture through the use of 3D bioprinting. The new model, called Human Skin Equivalent with Hypodermis (HSEH), could have a major impact on wounds and burns treatment and support medicine and cosmetics development, as well as for skin diseases simulation without animal testing use. The manufacturing, made from primary and stem cells, takes about 18 days from the process start to the finish.
For the first time in Brazil, it was possible to produce a complete skin model, including the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis, a fundamental layer of the organ that contributes to essential functions. Studies on this type of artificial skin only exist in six other countries in the world. Through Tissue Engineering techniques, CNPEM will produce the skin for its own studies, but may also manufacture the material for partner research institutions. The idea is to assist in the grafts development for wound and burn treatments.
As it has very similar characteristics to those of human skin, the material can be used in various disease, treatment and medicine studies. The first of these, already underway with Netherlands researchers, is to analyze people with diabetes’ skin characteristics, who may have difficult-to-heal wounds that could result in lower limb amputations.
The work, coordinated by researcher Ana Carolina M. Figueira, from CNPEM’s Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), highlights how the hypodermis presence in artificial skin models plays a fundamental role in regulating important biological processes, such as hydration and cell differentiation. This layer, formed by adipose cells, creates an environment that is closer to real human tissue, thus allowing more efficient cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation.
In the study, the team used 3D bioprinting to construct a collagen-based skin model, which serves as a matrix for cell interaction. The hypodermis, a layer that is often neglected in simplified models, was shown to be essential in modulating the expression of a wide range of genes that are vital to skin functionality, such as those related to tissue protection and regeneration.
“The hypodermis inclusion not only replicates the human skin architecture but also allows the in-depth study of biological processes in a more accurate and ethical way,” explains the researcher. The hypodermis plays an active role in the skin, influencing processes such as water regulation, cell development and immunity, which makes it essential for creating complete and functional skin models.
The 3D skin models research began in 2021 and the group has already developed other tissues, such as the one used as a dressing to heal injured areas in infarcted people’s hearts.
Animal testing
The CNPEM’s developed HSEH offers a robust and realistic platform for the study of dermatological diseases, besides serving as an ethical and sustainable alternative to the much-battered animal testing. This model has potential for application in a wide array of researches, from treatments developing for conditions such as dermatitis and chronic wounds to evaluating cosmetics and medicines efficacy and safety.
The study also points out that this complete skin structure can be used in inflammatory response and toxicity research, providing results that are closer to human physiology, which represents a significant advance for the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sector.
In addition to the CNPEM researchers, the study was supported by experts from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) and the University of Porto, who contributed to the data analysis and optimization of bioprinting techniques.
Award
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) was recognized with the “Embrace – Impact Connections 2022” award, from Natura & Co, for the development of the Human-on-a-chip technology, in the “Value Projects” category. This innovation, which simulates human organs in the laboratory, allows toxicity testing of cosmetic ingredients without using animals, reinforcing the studies safety and precision.
The project is part of the Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), which integrates the Brazilian Network for Alternative Methods (Renama ), coordinated by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI). Renama promotes alternative methods to the use of animals, offering infrastructure and training. In 2022, Natura and CNPEM organized a training focused on “Human Microphysiological Systems” to promote this technology in Latin America, highlighting Brazilian leadership in ethical and sustainable research.
