Brazilian scientists have created a groundbreaking 3D-printed artificial skin model featuring three layers—epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis—closely mimicking human skin. The innovation, developed by researchers at the Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio) under the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), offers significant potential for medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic research without the need for animal testing.
Known as the Human Skin Equivalent with Hypodermis (HSEH), this model represents a major advance over existing 3D skin technologies by incorporating the hypodermis, a fat cell-rich layer vital for regulating hydration, cell development, and immunity. The findings were detailed in Communications Biology and presented during FAPESP Week Spain in Madrid, aimed at fostering collaborations between São Paulo and European researchers.
“Our complete skin model provides a realistic platform for studying diseases and developing treatments, as well as enhancing cosmetics testing,” said project coordinator Ana Carolina Migliorini Figueira. The hypodermis layer proved essential for tissue protection, regeneration, and overall skin functionality, enabling precise disease modeling and toxicology studies.
LNBio plans to use this technology to develop grafts for treating wounds and burns. Future projects aim to create a diabetic skin model to study chronic wounds and develop innovative dressings to address healing challenges faced by diabetic patients.
Additionally, a collaboration with Dutch researchers at Radboud University Medical Center seeks to combine the Brazilian skin model with advanced biomaterials for testing new dressings on both animal and diabetic skin models.
Meanwhile, Brazilian researchers at the Federal University of ABC (UFABC) are working on synthetic biology tools, including genetic circuit-based biosensors, to monitor environmental contamination by metals like mercury and manganese in real-time, using cost-effective methods.
As reported by medicalxpress, the initiatives reflect Brazil’s commitment to biotechnology, which is increasingly recognized as a strategic global field. Spanish researchers emphasized the sector’s rapid growth, highlighting that Spain contributes significantly to global biotechnology research and fosters international collaborations.