Revolution in the laboratory: 3D printed skin could end animal testing!

Revolution in the laboratory: 3D printed skin could end animal testing!

Scientists at the Graz University of Technology and the Vellore Institute of Technology have developed a groundbreaking method for producing artificial skin. This skin is made from living cells and is manufactured using a 3D printer. The main goal of this innovation is to create a lifelike model that accurately replicates the structure and function of real human skin. This could have significant long-term implications for research and development of cosmetic products, as artificial skin can be used to test products such as skin creams and sunscreens without resorting to animal testing. exxpress.at reports that the three layers of tissue structure and the natural biomechanics of the artificial skin enable realistic tests.

The tests showed that the living skin cells in this 3D model are both robust and capable of growth. Scientists around the world are looking for ethically justifiable alternatives to animal testing, as existing animal models often only have limited applicability to humans. The 3D printed skin from Graz could play a pioneering role in cosmetic and medical research and drive a paradigm shift in product development.

Progress in the USA

A similar project is being pursued at the University of Oregon in collaboration with French skin care brand L’Oréal. A method was developed here that makes it possible to create realistic human skin equivalents in just 18 days. The researchers use a 3D printer to create multi-layered, skin-like cell colonies. According to Ievgenii Liashenko, a research engineer at the University of Oregon, this is the first known case of reproducing high-quality, full-thickness skin tissue using different cell types. oregonlive.com also reports that L’Oréal is already using this artificial skin to test cosmetics and skin care products. The researchers are also considering using the artificial skin to treat diabetic foot ulcers and develop skin grafts for burn victims.

Reducing animal testing in science

Another notable project to reduce animal testing comes from the University of Leipzig. An innovative 3D cell culture system was developed here that could significantly reduce animal testing in medicine. Under the direction of Dr. Peggy Stock is driving forward the project “Conception of a 3D silicone structure for the culture of mammalian cells”. The 3D silicone plotting technology forms a grid with an organ-like structure. The silicone used mimics the elasticity of human organs, which increases the relevance of the tests. Clinical trials have shown that human stem cells function better in this system than in conventional two-dimensional cultures. forschung-und-wissen.de highlights that this technology is expected to enter series production by 2025 and could improve predictions of new medical developments.

Advances in 3D printing technology and cell culture systems show that research is moving toward ethically responsible alternatives to animal testing. This could not only increase efficiency in product development, but also help to improve animal welfare and optimize results in medical research.