Cornell University Develops New Biocomposite Material to Lay the Foundation for 3d Printing Human Bionic Skin

Researchers from Cornell University have created a new biomaterial that can be used to create bionic skin that has a human-like tissue structure on July 12, 2022. The bio-hybrid composite developed by the research team has a unique composition of collagen mixed with "amphoteric" hydrogel, a soft and biocompatible material that is flexible enough to withstand continuous deformation. While the scientists' development project is still ongoing, they say this bioink could one day serve as the basis for 3D printing patient cell scaffolds to effectively heal wounds.

Nikolaos Bouklas, one of the study's co-lead authors, said, "Our ultimate goal is to create a material that can be used in regenerative medicine, such as a piece of scaffolding that can withstand some of the original load until the tissue is fully regenerated. With this material, you can 3D print a porous scaffold with cells that can eventually form the actual tissue around the scaffold."

Combining natural and synthetic materials

Given the nature of the body's constant movement, our tissues need to be both soft enough to bend on command and strong enough to withstand constant loading. When these cells become worn or damaged, hydrogels and synthetic materials can serve as replacements, but neither has the proper biological and mechanical properties to do so simultaneously, the Cornell team said. The scientists believe synthetic plastics often lack the ability to support and maintain living cells, making it difficult to generate microscopic structural tissues that can function. Meanwhile, when it comes to natural polymers such as collagen, fibrin or hyaluronic acid, researchers believe that while they can replicate the biocompatibility of living tissue, they tend to be more fragile.

To create a bioink with the flexibility and cell-friendliness to produce near-real artificial skin, the team turned to "amphoteric hydrogels. Specifically, the scientists found that mixing collagen with this material, which contains both positively and negatively charged molecular groups, allows it to withstand multiple impacts while supporting cell growth.

      Lawrence Bonassar, one of the study's other co-lead authors, explains, "These charge groups interact with the negative and positive charge groups in the collagen, and this interaction allows the material to dissipate energy and achieve high levels of toughness."

Laying the groundwork for a more realistic artificial skin?

Interestingly, in their paper, the researchers say their recipe for bio-hybrid composites requires only "simple mixing" as their collagen self-assembles into a fibrous network, which in turn is ionically connected to the surrounding hydrogel. According to Bouklas, this generates the same network of interconnected collagen seen in natural cartilage, which would otherwise be very difficult to produce.

The team tested the material and showed that the addition of collagen increased its elastic modulus by 40 percent compared to the untreated polymer matrix. They also found that combining collagen with hydrogel enabled the material to absorb 11 times more energy before cracking, while giving it properties similar to those of tissues such as articular cartilage.

In terms of biocompatibility, the scientists found that their collagen polymer was more than 100 times more capable of supporting cell growth, and it showed more than 90 percent cell survival. The researchers say they intend to continue studying the biosynthetic process behind the material, and they have now begun testing its feasibility for 3D printing of tissues.

The potential of 3D bioprinted tissues

Although 3D printed human tissue is still typically in the laboratory testing phase, the technology behind it has evolved by leaps and bounds in the last few years alone. in January 2022, researchers at the University of Birmingham and the University of Huddersfield revealed that they had developed a way to treat deep wounds with bioprinted skin. Similarly, late last year, the NOVOPLASM consortium announced the creation of the "world's first" 3D printed immune skin model. The model was developed using cold plasma technology and could be used in the future to treat infected burns and irritated skin grafts, among other conditions.

In addition to wound healing applications, 3D printing is also being used to create tissue for skin care product development. For example, HK inno.N and T&R Biofab have collaborated with the aim of developing 3D bioprinted tissues for drug testing, which could serve as an alternative to testing on animals.