Tissue-Engineered Models for the Study of Cutaneous Wound-Healing

Abstract

Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying wound healing is pivotal for the advancement of new therapies designed to accelerate this process. In the last twenty years, new bioengineered human in vitro, three-dimensional (3D) tissue models, known as human skin equivalents, have been developed to study wound healing and test new types of dressings and drugs. In this article, we will discuss the advantages of these human tissue models compared to traditional two-dimensional (2D) assays. We also describe specific applications where human skin equivalents have been used to test new bioactive materials and compounds that may accelerate reepithelialization. We will conclude with a detailed protocol for the construction of wounded human skin equivalents.