Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS
The study of skin diseases, wound healing processes, and aging phenomena is one of the major challenges of modern medicine. Until now, science and industry have often relied on animal testing. However, these tests provide only limited transferable results and are ethically controversial. This is where the research project “SkinVital” of the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS in Halle (Saale) comes in, aiming to develop a perfusion system for human skin samples.
The demand for new therapeutic options, diagnostic methods, and skin care products is increasing, as the skin, being the largest human organ, not only provides protection against external influences but also plays a central role in the immune system and in the regulation of vital processes.
The project team therefore aims to develop a novel technical system that can keep human skin explants viable for a significantly longer period than has previously been possible. The basis is a specially designed full-skin perfusion system that ensures continuous supply of nutrients and oxygen to the skin. The starting material consists of human skin samples obtained in cooperation with BG Klinikum Bergmannstrost Halle (Saale) during skin flap surgeries. In this way, a research platform is created that enables realistic investigation of the effectiveness of skin-related medical or care products on human skin under controlled laboratory conditions.
The perfusion system includes a specially constructed housing that protects the skin explants and ensures a sterile environment. The skin is placed on a hydrogel layer that provides optimal conditions for the supply and stabilization of the tissue. The perfusion solution itself is carefully adapted to the needs of the tissue and contains nutrients, electrolytes, and gases in a composition that closely resembles the natural supply within the human body. A control system maintains both temperature and perfusion pressure constant to ensure physiological conditions.
During the perfusion process, tissue viability is regularly monitored. Immunohistological analyses are used to assess the vitality and structural integrity of the skin. Furthermore, the model allows the targeted generation of defined wound conditions. This enables detailed investigation of inflammatory processes and direct comparison of different wound dressings. “In view of an aging society and the increasing prevalence of skin diseases and chronic wounds, the human full-skin perfusion model provides a tool that not only enhances the quality of research results but also sets ethical standards,” says Dr. Andrea Friedmann, who leads the project at the Fraunhofer IMWS.
Fraunhofer IMWS contributes its extensive expertise in developing innovative material and life science technologies to the project. “We are creating a novel platform with great potential for advancing research on human skin. At the same time, we are strengthening the scientific profile of the institute in the field of biomedical research,” adds Friedmann. In doing so, the project makes an important contribution to paving the way for new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Compared to animal studies, investigations on perfused human skin would be more transferable, cost-saving, and attractive for industrial partners.