Engineering of Human Skin

Skin is the largest organ in our human body—it protects us from trauma and microbes and prevents fluid loss. When skin is lost because of injury, burns, or malignancy, replacement is necessary so as to avoid a chronic wound. Using engineering principles, a number of skin replacement technologies have been introduced, including constructs grown in tissue culture, extracellular matrix scaffolds, and cells that can be sprayed on. Genetic modifications of skin are also possible to treat specific diseases. This session will review the engineering principles involved in developing skin replacement technologies and show clinical results.