Potential of Bioprinted Films for Skin Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Key roles of the healthy human skin are to prevent bacterial infection and excessive loss of water. However, such essential roles are compromised in patients with severe burns or chronic wounds. Synthetic materials such as petrolatum gauze backings and silicone membranes are commonly used in wound dressings to improve its mechanical properties and temporarily restore the role of the damaged skin. These synthetic materials are usually non-biodegradable and subsequent removal of such temporary wound dressings from the wound site is necessary. This necessitates the development of biodegradable films for skin tissue engineering. Although solvent casting is a simple fabrication technique for such films, properties such as mechanical strength and water transmission rate cannot be easily controlled via solvent casting technique. In this paper, a bioprinting approach will be explored for the fabrication of films for skin wound healing. The potential of such bioprinted films for skin tissue engineering is highlighted.