A new bioink has been designed for engineering human skin constructs using norbornene-pullulan-based hydrogels. The researchers introduced a novel photocrosslinkable bioink designed for engineering human skin constructs, based on thiol-norbornene-pullulan (N-PLN) formulations combined with various crosslinkers.

The bioink was effectively used in a customized direct laser writing setup to mimic epithelized dermal skin constructs. The dermal compartment was formed by photocrosslinking a pre-gel solution containing human fibroblasts, while the epidermal compartment was developed by seeding human keratinocytes on the fibroblast-laden hydrogels. Using visible light, 2.5 mm3 cell-laden hydrogels could be printed in just 10 seconds. The thiolene photocrosslinking chemistry employed here created a well-defined extracellular matrix with orthogonal crosslinks, maintaining high cellular viability rates for encapsulated fibroblasts.

The hydrogels formed after brief exposure to low-dose visible light exhibit the physicochemical properties necessary to support excellent cell viability, proliferation, matrix protein secretion, and elongation, which are crucial for cellular network formation. Additionally, the fibroblast-laden hydrogels support the culture of keratinocytes, enabling the formation of epithelized dermal constructs. (Image credit: Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia)

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Biomaterials Implants & Prosthetics Medical Medical equipment and supplies Medical, health and wellness Research and development

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