A group of specially appointed professor Katsutoshi Yoshizato of the Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University has succeeded in developing a highly novel "cultured dermis" through joint research with Nippon Menard Cosmetics Co., Ltd.
Tissues and organs of the human body artificially made into a petri dish (culture dish) are called "culture organs".Since real human organs cannot be the subject of research, cultured organs are being used to investigate the properties of organs and to develop drugs as models for human organs.Therefore, many researchers are enthusiastically working on the development of culture organs that are closer to the real thing, but most of the research so far has been to investigate the properties by arranging and maintaining cells three-dimensionally, and the flow of tissue fluid. Few studies focused on stimuli.
This time, the group aimed to culture fibroblasts, which are the main cells of the dermis, in an environment closer to the environment in the living body.First, we developed a method of applying tension to collagen fibers and confining and culturing fibroblasts in the three-dimensional lattice.Then, the culture solution flowing at the same speed as the biological tissue fluid was refluxed into the cultured dermis to bring it closer to the biological environment.It was found that this flow stimulation significantly increased hyaluronic acid synthesis in fibroblasts.
Through this research, we have succeeded in producing an artificial dermis that has properties closer to those of the living dermis, and it is expected that this cultured artificial skin will become a new tool for cosmetics development and drug development in the future.
