'Skin in a syringe': Breakthrough in Injectable Cell Technology for Wound Healing

Researchers have pioneered a revolutionary approach to wound treatment by developing a gel containing living cells that can be 3D printed directly into skin transplants, a method dubbed "skin in a syringe." This innovative technology was demonstrated in studies conducted on mice and shows promise for treating burns and severe wounds more effectively. The team, led by the Center for Disaster Medicine and Traumatology in collaboration with Linköping University in Sweden, created a biocompatible gel made from a combination of gelatin beads and hyaluronic acid, which can be injected into wounds and then solidify into a supportive matrix. The gel particles are embedded with dermal cells, particularly fibroblasts, which are essential for forming the dermis—the deeper and more complex layer of skin that contains blood vessels, nerves, and hair follicles.

The process involves mixing the gelatin beads with a light-sensitive gel that becomes liquid under pressure but quickly re-solidifies once in place, allowing precise application via syringe. The research team successfully 3D printed small grafts from this material, which, when implanted in mice, not only survived but also promoted blood vessel formation and new tissue growth. This approach aims to bypass the challenges of growing full dermal layers in the lab, enabling the body to develop its structure naturally after the initial scaffold is transplanted.

In addition to skin regeneration, this technique holds potential for developing mini blood vessels and organoids—tiny, functional versions of organs—by creating perfusable channels within the hydrogel. The use of elastic, water-based hydrogel threads that can be manipulated into mini-tubes could lead to improved vascularization in engineered tissues, overcoming previous size limitations due to oxygen and nutrient diffusion constraints.

Overall, the "skin in a syringe" method presents a promising future for personalized regenerative medicine, providing a minimally invasive way to repair severe skin injuries while facilitating tissue growth and vascularization. The research underscores the potential to manufacture complex skin structures and blood vessels in the lab, bringing us closer to advanced treatments for burns, trauma, and possibly other tissue regeneration applications.

Source: MedicalXpress