Reporter skin enables scientists to measure the skin's reaction to substances in real time. The so-called reporter skin offers an animal-free alternative for analysing cosmetics, allergens and chemicals.

Reproducing complex skin physiology

The new patented skin model from the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB simulates the complex structure of human skin, including the intact skin barrier. It consists of dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes that form a multi-layered epidermis and a protective horny layer.

The scientists isolate the cells for the skin model from skin samples that are produced as waste products during surgical procedures in doctors' surgeries and hospitals. The isolated primary cells are then first immortalised so that they can be cultured permanently and are available indefinitely. This means that the skin models can be built up reproducibly and provide donor-independent results.

Real-time analysis and versatile applications

Thanks to the in-built reporter function, the cellular response to various test substances can be precisely tracked without destroying the cells. This allows continuous analysis of the skin reaction. The model can also be customised and extended for different applications, making it a versatile and future-oriented test method.

Source: Fraunhofer