Skin integrated with perfusable vascular channels on a chip. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mori, Nobuhito; Morimoto, Yuya; Takeuchi, Shoji
• Is Part Of: Biomaterials. Volume 116(2017)
• Page Start: 48
• Page End: 56
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Skin-equivalent -- Skin model -- Vascular channel -- Perfusion -- Blood vessel -- Percutaneous absorption; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; Biocompatible Materials -- Periodicals; Biomatériaux -- Périodiques; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.11.031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-9612

Abstract

Abstract: This paper describes a method for fabricating perfusable vascular channels coated with endothelial cells within a cultured skin-equivalent by fixing it to a culture device connected to an external pump and tubes. A histological analysis showed that vascular channels were constructed in the skin-equivalent, which showed a conventional dermal/epidermal morphology, and the endothelial cells formed tight junctions on the vascular channel wall. The barrier function of the skin-equivalent was also confirmed. Cell distribution analysis indicated that the vascular channels supplied nutrition to the skin-equivalent. Moreover, the feasibility of a skin-equivalent containing vascular channels as a model for studying vascular absorption was demonstrated by measuring test molecule permeation from the epidermal layer into the vascular channels. The results suggested that this skin-equivalent can be used for skin-on-a-chip applications including drug development, cosmetics testing, and studying skin biology.