Bioengineering strategies for regeneration of skin integrity: A literature review

Abstract

Objective: The skin is a complex organ that includes various stem cell populations. Current approaches for non-healing skin defects are sometimes inadequate and many attempts have been made to regenerate skin integrity. The aim of this review is to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical application of skin integrity regeneration. Methods: A literature search was carried out in PubMed using combinations of the keywords “skin integrity”, “tissue-engineered skin”, “bioengineered skin”, and “skin regeneration”. Articles published from 1968 to 2023 reporting evidence from in vivo and in vitro skin regeneration experiments were included. Results: These articles showed that stem cells can be differentiated into normal skin cells, including keratinocytes, and are a significant source of skin organoids, which are useful for investigating skin biology; and that emerging direct reprogramming methods have great potential to regenerate skin from the wounded skin surface. Conclusion: Recent advances in skin regeneration will facilitate further advancement of both basic and clinical research in skin biology.

Keywords

• Skin integrity
• Tissue-engineered skin
• Bioengineered skin
• Skin regeneration
• Regenerative medicine