BASF Care Creations and CTIBiotech have announced the development of the first 3D bioprinted skin models including immune macrophages.
Macrophages are specialised cells involved in the detection, phagocytosis and destruction of bacteria and harmful organisms. They constantly monitor the skin’s microenvironment for indications of cell stress, tissue injury or infection.
To maintain skin homeostasis, macrophages have a high degree of plasticity to promote or supress inflammation.
Chemicals company BASF says the use of CTIBiotech’s 3D printing technology to create these lifelike tissue models will let its scientists research the function of macrophages in a fully reconstructed skin, and will be the basis for developing and testing bio-actives for skin care applications.
“Compared with current in vitro methods, the 3D immune bioprinted skin developed with CTIBiotech will allow analysis more in line with human physiology and the immune role of macrophages,” said Dr Sébastien Cadau, 3D Tissue Engineering Specialist at BASF’s site in Lyon, France.
“That’s how the technology is going to help us accelerate the development of innovative and highly reliable ingredients for the skin care market.
“Our understanding of an immunocompetent 3D skin provides the basis for developing and testing advanced cosmetic bio-actives for skin care applications.”
CTIBiotech, which stands for Cell Therapy Research Institute, began its cooperation with BASF as early as 2011.
In 2015, they partnered on 3D tissue models for the development and testing of bio-actives for skin care applications, with their first results – demonstrating the ex vivo production of physiological sebum in a long term culture of a 3D sebaceous gland model, as well as its regulation using active ingredients – announced in 2018.
