Development of Epidermal Equivalent from Electrospun Synthetic Polymers for In Vitro Irritation/Corrosion Testing

Abstract

The development of products for topical applications requires analyses of their skin effects before they are destined for the market. At present, the ban on animal use in several tests makes the search for in vitro models (such as artificial skin) necessary to characterize the risks involved. In this work, tissue engineering concepts were used to manufacture collagen-free three-dimensional scaffolds for cell growth and proliferation. Two different human skin models—reconstructed human epidermis and full-thickness skin—were developed from electrospun scaffolds using synthetic polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, and nylon 6/6. After the construction of these models, their histology was analyzed by H&E staining and immunohistochemistry. The results revealed a reconstructed epidermal tissue, duly stratified, obtained from the nylon scaffold. In this model, the presence of proteins involved in the epidermis stratification process (cytokeratin 14, cytokeratin 10, involucrin, and loricrin) was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. The nylon reconstructed human epidermis model’s applicability was evaluated as a platform to perform irritation and corrosion tests. Our results demonstrated that this model is a promising platform to assess the potential of dermal irritation/corrosion of chemical products.

Advancements in Extracellular Matrix-Based Biomaterials and Biofabrication of 3D Organotypic Skin Models

“…132 These synthetic polymers are biostable, biocompatible, and inexpensive, which deem them suitable as a dermal scaffold. 132 However, matrix− matrix and cell−matrix interactions in these scaffolds are often omitted, which may not resemble the actual microenvironment underlying the human skin. Hence, this current review primarily focuses on the use of ECM-based biomaterials in the generation of electrospun scaffolds.…”

“…Electrospun dermal constructs can be developed from various biomaterials, including natural ECM-based polymers like collagen − and also synthetic polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or nylon . These synthetic polymers are biostable, biocompatible, and inexpensive, which deem them suitable as a dermal scaffold .…”

“…Electrospun dermal constructs can be developed from various biomaterials, including natural ECM-based polymers like collagen − and also synthetic polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or nylon . These synthetic polymers are biostable, biocompatible, and inexpensive, which deem them suitable as a dermal scaffold . However, matrix–matrix and cell–matrix interactions in these scaffolds are often omitted, which may not resemble the actual microenvironment underlying the human skin.…”

Electrophoretic Deposition of Biocompatible and Bioactive Hydroxyapatite-Based Coatings on Titanium

“…The advantage of polymer application in reconstruction surgery, in the native or composite form, can be recognized in the possibility of producing structures with enhanced physical and mechanical properties, e.g., controlled degradation rates, porosity, enhanced biocompatibility etc. The wide field of biodegradable polymers’ applications includes dentistry [ 23 , 24 ], tissue engineering [ 25 , 26 ], drug delivery [ 27 , 28 ], orthopedic devices [ 29 , 30 ], artificial skin [ 31 , 32 ], and cardiovascular surgery [ 33 , 34 ]. The most used synthetic polymers in tissue reconstruction surgery are listed below: Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)—PLGA in combination with the natural polymer chitosan, applied as a stent coating, can reduce platelet adhesion [ 35 ], while the combination of PLGA with HAP and the antibiotic atorvastatin can be applicable in bone tissue engineering as injectable PLGA micro-particulate system [ 36 ].…”

“…The advantage of polymer application in reconstruction surgery, in the native or composite form, can be recognized in the possibility of producing structures with enhanced physical and mechanical properties, e.g., controlled degradation rates, porosity, enhanced biocompatibility etc. The wide field of biodegradable polymers' applications includes dentistry [23,24], tissue engineering [25,26], drug delivery [27,28], orthopedic devices [29,30], artificial skin [31,32], and cardiovascular surgery [33,34]. The most used synthetic polymers in tissue reconstruction surgery are listed below:…”