3D bioprinted skin gets pigmentation upgrade

(Credit: Helena Paffen via CC)

3D printed skin is used for grafting as well as toxicology and chemical testing, but currently lacks complex features such as pigmentation or hair follicles. However, by controlling the distribution of melanin-producing skin cells on a biomimetic tissue substrate, human-like skin pigmentation can be produced. The work is described in the journal Biofabrication.

"3D bioprinting is an excellent platform for the precise deposition of biomaterials and living cells to make biomimetic skin, in large volumes with great repeatability,” said lead author Wei Long Ng, from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.

“However, non-uniform skin pigmentation is often seen, and this remains a huge challenge to be solved.”

The research team featured scientists and engineers from the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) as well as Nanyang’s Singapore Centre for 3D Printing (SC3DP). Three different types of skin cells - keratinocytes, melanocytes, and fibroblasts – were used to create the pigmented skin, in what is described as a two-step ‘drop on demand’ bioprinting method.