Scientists have successfully developed an artificial skin tissue that may be considered a beacon of hope for burn victims.
Currently skin transplant involves taking skin from one part of the body and implanting it on the affected area. The new artificial skin tissue is fully functional, complete with hair follicles and oil-secreting glands which will looks and feels like real skin.
Researchers from the RIKEN Centre for Developmental Biology (CDB), Tokyo University of Science led by Takashi Tsuji, successfully implanted the artificial skin tissue on to living mice with immune system deficiencies.
The researchers cultivated the new skin using the DNA they collected from the gums of the mice. The skin behaved like actual living skin, connecting with other organ systems such as nerves and muscle fibres.
“We are coming ever closer to the dream of being able to recreate actual organs in the lab for transplantation, and also believe that tissue grown through this method could be used as an alternative to animal testing of chemicals,” said Tsuji.
