Empa is developing a novel approach to replicating human skin for biomedical research. At the core of this effort is a hydrogel based on fish-derived gelatin, which can be processed via 3D printing and is specifically used to produce living skin models. The objective is to recreate complex skin structures in vitro to enable a better understanding of skin diseases and their treatment.
Human skin is a highly differentiated tissue composed of multiple layers with a specific architecture. To realistically replicate this structure in the lab, both the cells and the extracellular matrix must be mimicked. This matrix, made up of proteins and polysaccharides, gives skin its mechanical stability and functionality. Hydrogels are considered suitable substitutes, as they are water-rich and compatible with living cells. Their ability to be 3D printed makes them especially promising for building functional tissue models.
A common challenge with conventional hydrogels is their tendency to swell significantly upon contact with fluids, causing deformation of the printed object. Researchers at Empa, led by Kongchang Wei, have developed a new hydrogel using gelatin extracted from cold-water fish skin. Through targeted cross-linking, the material remains dimensionally stable and can be printed together with living cells.
“3D printing is a powerful tool for developing skin models. It allows us to place skin cells in specific patterns within the hydrogel matrix,” says Wei, head of the research group Tissue-Regenerative Soft Materials. “We can combine multiple materials and cell types within a single structure—just like real skin.”
“Our model aims to replicate not only the dermis and epidermis but also the basal membrane between them,” Wei explains. “With fish gelatin hydrogel and additional polymer processing techniques such as electrospinning, we’re moving closer to that goal.”
In addition to disease research, the hydrogel may also serve as wound dressing. Fish gelatin is considered immunologically advantageous, triggering fewer immune responses than mammalian gelatin.
“Fish skin is currently being investigated as a promising material for wound healing,” says Wei. “Our hydrogel is more homogeneous, safer, and can be tailored to patient needs—varying in shape, thickness, and stiffness. Even the integration of drugs is conceivable,” he adds.
The team has filed a patent and plans to make the living skin model available to the international research community to further advance the field. “We hope this contributes to a deeper understanding of the development and treatment of skin diseases,” says Wei.
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