Radial matrix constraint influences tissue contraction and promotes maturation of bi-layered skin equivalents
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Date
2024-01
Publication Type
Journal Article
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yes
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Abstract
Human skin equivalents (HSEs) serve as important tools for mechanistic studies with human skin cells, drug discovery, pre-clinical applications in the field of tissue engineering and for skin transplantation on skin defects. Besides the cellular and extracellular matrix (ECM) components used for HSEs, physical constraints applied on the scaffold during HSEs maturation influence tissue organization, functionality, and homogeneity.
In this study, we introduce a 3D-printed culture insert that exposes bi-layered HSEs to a static radial constraint through matrix adhesion. We examine the effect of various diameters of the ring-shaped culture insert on the HSE's characteristics and compare them to state-of-the-art unconstrained and planar constrained HSEs.
We show that radial matrix constraint of HSEs regulates tissue contraction, promotes fibroblast and matrix organization that is similar to human skin in vivo and improves keratinocyte differentiation, epidermal stratification, and basement membrane formation depending on the culture insert diameter.
Together, these data demonstrate that the degree of HSE's contraction is an important design consideration in skin tissue engineering. Therefore, this study can help to mimic various in vivo skin conditions and to increase the control of relevant tissue properties.
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published
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Volume
156
Pages / Article No.
213702
Publisher
Elsevier
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Subject
Radial matrix constraint; In vitro human skin equivalent; Collagen hydrogel; 3D-printed culture system; Tissue organization; Keratinocyte differentiation; Extracellular matrix production; Mechanical stimulus; Finite element simulation
Organisational unit
03943 - Meboldt, Mirko / Meboldt, Mirko
03605 - Mazza, Edoardo / Mazza, Edoardo
03520 - Werner, Sabine / Werner, Sabine
03520 - Werner, Sabine / Werner, Sabine
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Is cited by: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000672535