3D-Printed Human Skin Offers Alternative to Animal Testing in Cosmetics
An international team of scientists has developed an innovative technology: 3D-printed artificial skin using living cells. This breakthrough responds to the strict restrictions imposed by the European Union’s Directive 2010/63, which bans testing cosmetics and their components on animals. The new skin model aims to replace traditional experiments, providing a safe and ethical way to test cosmetic products, including their nanoparticles.
The 3D-printed skin accurately replicates the structure and functions of real human skin, which consists of three layers. To achieve this, researchers used a special hydrogel-based composition—a material mixed with living cells and then printed. The hydrogel plays a crucial role, providing a suitable environment for the cells. As Professor Karin Stana Kleinschek from the Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Bioresources at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) explains, the hydrogel must meet strict requirements: it must not only support cell life but also promote their growth and proliferation.
However, hydrogel has its challenges: due to its high water content, it’s ideal for cells but structurally unstable. To address this, Austrian scientists are working on a «crosslinking» process—a special treatment of the material using mechanical and chemical methods. This process aims to strengthen the hydrogel while maintaining gentle conditions to avoid using toxic substances harmful to cells. After stabilizing the material, the team tests it in cell cultures, checking its longevity and non-toxicity.
The artificial skin is considered viable only when the cells embedded in the hydrogel survive in culture for two to three weeks and begin to form real skin tissue. Only then can the model be used for testing cosmetics at the cellular level. According to Professor Kleinschek, the initial test results are encouraging: the treated hydrogel demonstrates both structural stability and safety for cells.
The next stage of the research involves testing nanoparticles found in cosmetics using this 3D model. Professor Kleinschek emphasizes that the project’s success is due to the collaboration between TU Graz and the VIT Institute.
«Our expertise in developing materials for tissue simulation perfectly complements VIT’s knowledge in molecular and cellular biology. Together, we are refining the hydrogel composition and verifying its suitability as a complete alternative to animal experiments,» she says.
