Lab-grown skin tissue ‘offers new research possibilities’

Researchers have developed a method of growing skin layers in laboratory settings using stem cells, a discovery that holds numerous potential applications in research and therapy.

An international team led by King's College London and the San Francisco Veteran Affairs Medical Center have created the first lab-grown epidermis – the outermost skin layer – that offers a functional permeability barrier akin to real skin.

The epidermis is grown from human pluripotent stem cells, which are used to produce an unlimited supply of pure keratinocytes – the predominant cell type in the outermost layer of skin – to manufacture 3D epidermal equivalents in a high-to-low humidity environment.

Previously, tissue engineers have been unable to grow epidermis with the functional barrier needed for drug testing or the study of rare and common skin disorders. This new innovation could help researchers to phase out the use of animal test subjects.

Dr Dusko Ilic, leader of the team at King's College London, said: "Our new method can be used to grow much greater quantities of lab-grown human epidermal equivalents, and thus could be scaled up for commercial testing of drugs and cosmetics."

This comes after the UK government announced plans earlier this year for animal research to be reduced, replaced and refined, so it is only used when there are no other viable alternatives.