Miss Leah Mackie¹

¹Inventia Life Science/ University Of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

Abstract:

Skin grafting is effective for the replacement of burn damaged tissue but has widely accepted limitations. Dermal templates such as INTEGRA or BTM and cell based therapies including ReCell provide alternatives for the repair of deep and full-thickness skin defects, and have significantly reduced the impact of scarring. Yet there remains a need for new approaches that drive a more regenerative rather than reparative process to restore normal skin tissue to the site of injury.

3D bioprinting is a cutting-edge technology that provides an opportunity for high resolution, reproducible and complex delivery of cells and scaffolds. The use of 3D bioprinting may therefore enable restoration of more normal tissue when applied to skin repair.

In this study, we have tested a custom 3D bioprinting platform using an excision wound model. 8 3x3cm full thickness wounds were created in 7 pigs and treated with either a ReCell suspension within a bioprinted matrix or a ReCell and Integra treatment. After 7 days, animals were euthanised and wounds dissected for a 3-part analysis; histology, flow cytometry and cytokines.

Tissue sections were stained to measure collagen and assess re-epithelization. Flow cytometry analysed markers for fibroblasts, keratinocytes, haematopoietic and endothelial cells. A panel of inflammatory cytokines was measured using a Luminex multiplex assay.

Our preliminary observations show promising signs of skin regeneration in the printed conditions when compared to the ReCell and Integra treatment.

3D bioprinting remains a promising approach to the treatment of deep wounds and advances us towards the goal of scarless healing.

Biography:

Leah Mackie holds a BSc from the University of Western Australia and has a personal interest regenerative medicine. She joined Inventia Life Science as a research assistant early in 2022 and is working with the Burns Research Injury Unit at UWA to develop a 3D printer for skin regeneration.