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In Vitro Human Skin

Summary

The in vitro human skin models, also known as organotypic co-cultures (OTC) is comprises of human keratinocytes grown on a fibroblast-embedded collagen gel. The researchers are able to address current OTCs technologies which fail to represent the various skin conditions, such as wrinkled ageing skin, dry skin and atopic dermatitis skin. This technology also provides an alternative option to animal and cell-based toxicity testing models which are often burdened by significant accuracy, reproducibility, cost and ethical concerns.In present times, there is a large market for test product and services on skin substitutes where large cosmetic companies spend millions of dollar per years on this type of testing. The continual research and advance medical care for the treatments of critical burns patients and other skin disorder further escalated the existing market demands. This technology will enable cosmeaceutical/pharmaceutical companies, academic /research institutes, hospitals and  government agencies to better evaluate their products for consumers benefits.

Technology Benefits

With the growing concerns over experiments on animals as cruel, expensive and generally an inapplicable act, the researchers offer this innovative method for testing products and studying diseases that replace animals and are actually relevant to human health. This in vitro human skin model also offers an alternative option for in vivo studies.

Technology Application

The need for contract work has grown exponentially with globalization and the need for profit margins has forced large corporations to outsource their product testing which translates to reducing operational cost and better productivity. This technology will able to addresses the growing demand from dermatological-related companies for claim validation of products on different types of in vitro skin substitutes that model the various human skin conditions.

Detailed Technology Description

The in vitro human skin model has shown high degree of similarity with human skin when characterized with several skin biomarkers. The infectious human skin model is also possible with the co-culture of microorganisms to evluate product such as hand wash detergents.This model composed of a layer of collagen with dermal primary fibroblast overlay with epidermal primary keratinocytes and are cultured over a period of two weeks to form a proper multilayered, highly stratified epidermis layer.The use of a serum-free, chemically-defined medium further strengthens this platform to provide a more standardized testing methods as compared to media containing serum.Test chemical or ingredient can then be directly applied topical over a period of time or spiked into our chemically-defined media as systemic application for product safety or efficacy testing.

Application Date

22-Jul-2015

ID No.

TO17566

Country/Region

Singapore