1. Human skin equivalents: Impaired barrier function in relation to the lipid and protein properties of the stratum corneum
- Author
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Richard W.J. Helder, Joke A. Bouwstra, and Abdoelwaheb El Ghalbzouri
- Subjects
Skin barrier ,Pharmaceutical Science ,Human skin ,02 engineering and technology ,Permeability ,Cornified envelope ,03 medical and health sciences ,Stratum corneum ,medicine ,Humans ,Cells, Cultured ,Skin barrier function ,Barrier function ,030304 developmental biology ,Skin, Artificial ,0303 health sciences ,integumentary system ,Chemistry ,Proteins ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Lipids ,Cell biology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Drug development ,0210 nano-technology ,Animal skin - Abstract
To advance drug development representative reliable skin models are indispensable. Animal skin as test model for human skin delivery is restricted as their properties greatly differ from human skin. In vitro 3D-human skin equivalents (HSEs) are valuable tools as they recapitulate important aspects of the human skin. However, HSEs still lack the full barrier functionality as observed in native human skin, resulting in suboptimal screening outcome. In this review we provide an overview of established in-house and commercially available HSEs and discuss in more detail to what extent their skin barrier biology is mimicked in vitro focusing on the lipid properties and cornified envelope. Further, we will illustrate how underlying factors, such as culture medium improvements and environmental factors affect the barrier lipids. Lastly, potential improvements in skin barrier function will be proposed aiming at a new generation of HSEs that may replace animal skin delivery studies fully.
- Published
- 2021
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