Design and Development of a Multi-Compartment Human Skin By 3D Printing

We demonstrate the potential of 3D bio-printing technology in the generation of a multi-layered human skin tissue model. A modified inkjet printer was used to develop a human skin model in a layer-by-layer approach by printing multiple layers of collagen, fibroblasts and keratinocytes. We were able to print a 13-layered skin structure of thickness 1200µm on both petri-dishes and tissue culture transwell inserts without the presence of a mold or a cast. The skin model was further characterized with H&E and antibody staining, following exposure to air-liquid interface, to initiate the process of self-assembly. Our initial results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating this technology with novel approaches in designing a more physiologically relevant human skin model. This method of generation of skin has applications for modeling in drug discovery, toxicity studies as well as, in designing autologous grafts for burn victims.