Scientists from Sechenov Medical University reported that using a bio-ink containing cellular spheres, via a portable bio-printer, allows for the complete restoration of skin structure.
According to a source in the university's media office, the study results showed a significant therapeutic effect. By day 18, the wound area in the group treated with cellular spherules had decreased by approximately 90%, while the reduction in the control group did not exceed 30-40%. The average wound area in the cellular spherule group was about 1.3 square centimeters, compared to about 10-11 square centimeters in the control group. By day 36, the group treated with cellular spherules had fully regenerated all layers of skin, while the wounds in the control group had not healed completely.
In the study, researchers used a bio-ink based on a fibrin-gel hydrogel, with added spheres made from mesenchymal cells taken from adipose tissue. They then applied the material directly to the wound surface using a portable bioprinter. The experiments were conducted on piglets with a model of ischemic wounds.
Dr. Anastasia Spichka, director of the Applied Microfluidics Laboratory at the university, said: “It was important for us in this study not only to prove that the innovative bio-ink and its method of application accelerate the healing process, but also to understand the mechanism of this effect. It turned out that the cellular spheres play a crucial role, since the hydrogel alone does not provide a significant acceleration in the healing process without them. This allows for precise control of tissue regeneration, rather than simply mechanically closing the wound.”
She added that this means, clinically, that wounds can be treated comprehensively by reducing inflammation, stimulating blood vessel formation, and initiating tissue repair.
She said: "These methods may prove useful in the future, particularly in treating chronic wounds, which traditional methods are not usually effective in dealing with."
