Scientists may be just one step away from finding a cure for baldness, as researchers in the United States have successfully produced hair follicles printed using 3D technology in human skin tissues for the first time. According to the British newspaper "Daily Mail," Pankaj Karande, an associate professor of chemical and biological engineering who led the study, stated: "Our work is evidence of the possibility of creating hair follicle structures in a very precise and repeatable manner using 3D bioprinting. This type of automated process is essential for making the biomanufacturing of skin feasible in the future." He added, "Reconstructing hair follicles using human-derived cells has historically been a challenge. Some studies have shown that if these cells are cultivated in a 3D environment, they are likely to produce new hair follicles, and our study builds on this work."
A team from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York aimed to find a way to create skin that carries hair follicles using cellular-level 3D printing techniques. They allowed samples of skin and follicle cells to divide and proliferate in the lab until they had enough for printing. Each type was then mixed with proteins and other materials to form a "bio-ink." The skin was printed layer by layer using a very fine needle, while channels were created to allow hair cells to stabilize. The current age of these tissues is between two to three weeks, which is not enough time for hair growth. However, the researchers hope to extend this period, allowing the follicle to mature further and eventually grow hair.
