P101: Advancing Dermatology with Skin Equivalents and Organoids in Pathophysiology and Drug Testing
Poster Presenter
Bahar Lakeh
Student
Georgetown University School of Medicine United States
Objectives
This abstract discusses how advanced three-dimensional skin equivalents and organoids, especially those derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, are transforming the modeling of skin diseases and testing.
Method
This study was conducted as a scoping review. Key search terms included, but were not limited to, organoid, skin, skin organoid, and skin equivalents. The time range included the last 20 years, from 2004 until June 2024. A total of 2891 papers were identified and after exclusion 173 remained
Results
Advanced 3D skin equivalents, including those derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and integrated skin-on-chip systems, effectively recapitulate complex aspects of human skin biology and disease processes, improve the physiological relevance of disease models and drug testing compared to 2D systems.
Conclusion
The development of SEs, particularly hiPSCs-derived SKO and SOC, has changed the approach of dermatologic research and testing. By being able to accurately replicate the human skin’s complex structures and nuances, these models offer a more ethical, reproducible, and physiologically accurate platform to test pathophysiology, aging, drug research, infectious disease, radiation, and hair growth. These models have been able to overcome the limitations of animal models and give researchers and clinicians a more accurate depiction of possible outcomes. Key limitations in SKO include the prolonged timeframe for appendage formation, over 80 days, and the need for advanced technologies to recapitulate the skin geometry. Nevertheless, SKO and SOC offer an exciting future for medicine and dermatology. Together, SEs represent a significant advancement in dermatology, bridging the gap between laboratory research and clinical applications. By overcoming current limitations and driving further innovation, these models can set new standards in dermatologic research and testing.
