For many years, our need to beautify ourselves has come with a terrible price – the suffering of innocent animals. Whether you are aware of it or not, you have most likely used a beauty product that was tested on animals. Thankfully, it is not as common a practice as it once was due to the considerable backlash from the public and animal welfare organizations. So far, a minimum of 44 countries have banned animal testing, and several have additionally banned the sale of any cosmetics tested on animals. However, it would be very useful to have a way to test certain products on cells to determine whether they pose any potential risks to our health. This is where the researchers from Graz University of Technology and the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in India enter the story. They have developed a new 3D-printed skin that could revolutionize the industry.
How 3D-Printed Skin Could Change Everything
The researchers believe they have developed the perfect compromise to the problem of needing cells to test products on. They have developed an artificial “skin” composed of hydrogel layers glued together by human cells. While the bioengineered solution is still in the initial phases of development, the team believes that it can potentially mimic our skin effectively enough to get rid of the need for animal testing. The potential applications extend well beyond just cosmetic testing, though. This new 3D-printed skin could also be used in drug testing and exploring wound healing.
The team initially planned to develop a skin substitute that could mimic the various layers of our skin – the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. They eventually decided to go with hydrogel as the base because of its high water content. This created the perfect conditions for integrating living cells, enabling them to develop and propagate over a short time frame. The process of creating the 3D-printed skin starts with a machine adding layers of hydrogel skin substitute onto a square surface. The skin “scaffolding” is laid out in a checker-like pattern across a circular platform. The researchers are presently striving to make the material viable for two to three weeks. When this goal has been reached, the 3D-printed skin will be durable enough for various applications, such as testing cosmetics.
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A Welcome Change
This breakthrough would be welcomed with open arms by those within animal welfare organizations. While exact numbers are hard to calculate, it has been estimated that approximately 500,000 animals have to suffer or die every year around the world due to cosmetic testing. The opponents of the current model argue that it is completely inhumane to apply harmful chemicals to the eyes and skin of animals. Most of the time, the animals are euthanized after being experimented on. Yet, this practice is not exclusive to the cosmetic industry. It has been estimated that around 20 million animals die every year due to medical and pharmaceutical research in the U.S. alone.
The point at which bioengineering and 3D printing intersect is a space with much potential. It is already impacting the medical industry significantly, and its role will likely only expand from here on out. There have already been noteworthy experiments involving 3D-printed livers made of actual human cells. Researchers hope that they can one day be utilized to address the ever-present issue of the organ donor shortage. This isn’t just a pipe dream either; some people are already benefiting from this type of technology. A woman from South Korea recently received the first 3D-printed organ transplant after her thyroid surgery – a printed windpipe! Furthermore, Harvard University researchers recently produced 3D-printed blood vessels! This breakthrough will make the manufacture of a large number of substitute organs far more viable.
The Bottom Line on 3D-Printed Skin
The recent development of 3D-printed skin represents a significant advancement in both science and ethics. Providing a dependable, lab-grown alternative to live animal testing, it can pave the way for a more compassionate future. It will be useful in a range of applications, such as cosmetics, medicine, and pharmaceutical research. While the technology is still developing, its ability to alter industries and save countless animal lives is very evident. With continuous refining, 3D-printed skin may become the gold standard for product testing, demonstrating that innovation and compassion can coexist.
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