Bioprinted skin may uncover new treatment for eczema

3D bioprinting is a technology that mixes bioinks with living cells to print natural tissue-like structures. This new technology provides the most human-like skin model for studying inflammatory conditions, such as eczema.

The 3D bioprinter uses human cells as bioinks, which act like ink from a printer ink cartridge.

Researchers have used many types of cells in the process, including melanocytes, which form skin pigment; keratinocytes, which allow for skin renewal; and fibroblasts, which form connective tissue.

These cells are printed in layers, and then put into an incubator where the cells can communicate with each other, expand and form bioprinted skin.

Research to increase understanding of eczema and advance new therapies for this condition has previously been limited by a lack of preclinical models that accurately simulate human disease.

Dr Saranya Wyles, M.D, Ph.D, a dermatologist and senior lead of the research, said: “3D bioprinting brings new options. It can create human equivalents that are truer and more representative of the disease, unlike the animal models we have worked with in the past.