Artificial human skin used to make gloves for patients with burns on hands

Bioengineers from Columbia University have developed gloves made from artificial human skin to help patients with big burns on their hands.

Previously, artificial skin was flat, which was difficult to place on patients and led to surgeries that ran long for the patients.

According to lead developer Hasan Erbil Abaci, three-dimensional (3D) skin is the solution since it would reduce the need for sutures, reduce the length of surgeries, and improve aesthetic outcomes or how the hand looks after.

They made the 3D skin by creating a skin graft with a 3D laser scan. A skin fibroblast was then placed on the exterior which forms connective tissue on the skin, as well as collagen and structural protein.

They have already tried it on rats, and the operation lasted only 10 minutes. In addition, the hand was restored to full function in four weeks.

They are also studying how to make wearable skin for the face and other body parts.

—Kimberly Tsao/MGP, GMA Integrated News