With a new breakthrough in skin transplantation, scientists successfully 3D bio-print the first functional hair follicle.

CTOnews.com, November 16 (Xinhua) A scientific team from the Rensselaer Institute of Technology recently used 3D printing technology to successfully grow hair follicles in human skin tissue in a laboratory environment.

The research team successfully reproduced the normal human hair follicle structure in human skin cultured in the laboratory. This important breakthrough not only confirmed the potential of this new technology in skin tissue regeneration, but also opened a new era of derivative applications.

The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, have potential applications in regenerative medicine and drug testing, and can be used in engineered skin grafts that grow hair in the next few years.

"the current development success is just a proof-of-concept that hair follicle structures can be created in a highly accurate and repeatable manner using 3D bio-printing," said Dr Pankaj Karande. "this automated process is necessary to make future skin biomanufacturing possible."

In terms of engineered human skin, hair follicles seem superfluous at first glance. However, hair follicles are important: they produce sweat, help regulate body temperature, and contain stem cells that help skin heal. Hair follicles are also the entry point for topical drugs and cosmetics, making them an important part of dermatological testing.

CTOnews.com attached the reference address of the paper: Carolina Motter Catarino et al.,Incorporation of hair follicles in 3D bioprinted models of human skin.Sci. Adv.9,eadg0297 (2023). DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adg0297