Scientists at Linköping University in Sweden have developed a revolutionary technology that can heal burns without leaving scars. Dubbed “skin in a syringe,” this innovative approach uses 3D-printed skin transplants made from gel containing live cells.

The study, led by researchers Johan Junker and Daniel Aili, aimed to create new skin that doesn’t become scar tissue but a functioning dermis. The dermis is the thicker layer of skin beneath the epidermis, which contains blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and other essential structures for skin function and elasticity.

To achieve this, the researchers used click chemistry to connect gelatine beads with hyaluronic acid, creating a liquid that can be applied to wounds using a syringe. The gel becomes gel-like again once applied, making it possible to 3D-print the cells in it.

In the current study, small pucks made from this technology were placed under the skin of mice, showing promising results. The cells survived and produced substances needed to create new dermis, with blood vessels forming in the grafts. This breakthrough has significant implications for burn patients, who often suffer from severe scarring due to traditional transplant methods.

The LiU researchers also developed a method to make threads from hydrogels, which can be used to build mini-tubes or perfusable channels. These tubes can be used to pump fluid through or have blood vessel cells grow in them, potentially solving the problem of blood vessel supply in tissue models.

This research has received funding from various organizations, including the Erling-Persson Foundation and the European Research Council (ERC). The study’s findings were published in Advanced Healthcare Materials.

A recent study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has found that patients who undergo “tummy tuck” surgery (abdominoplasty) to remove excess skin and tissue after weight loss continue to lose weight in the months and years after surgery. The study, which followed 188 patients for up to five years after their procedure, found that many of these individuals were able to achieve significant and sustained weight loss.

According to the researchers, who were led by Dr. John Y.S. Kim from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, patients who underwent abdominoplasty surgery experienced an average weight loss of between five and six pounds at three to six months after their procedure. This weight loss continued over time, with an average loss of about five pounds between one and four years after surgery.

By the time of their five-year follow-up, patients had lost an average of nearly ten pounds, which is a significant reduction in body mass index (BMI). The researchers also found that about 60% of patients experienced weight loss during this period. Furthermore, they discovered that older patients, those who underwent liposuction or lipectomy at the same time as their abdominoplasty, and those who had never smoked were more likely to continue losing weight after surgery.

While the study’s findings are encouraging for individuals considering abdominoplasty surgery, it is essential to note that the researchers could not definitively explain why patients continued to lose weight after surgery. However, they suggested that patients may have developed healthy habits centered around nutrition and exercise that contributed to their long-term weight loss.

Overall, this study provides valuable new evidence that post-abdominoplasty weight reduction is a quantifiable phenomenon and highlights the need for further research into factors associated with sustained weight loss in patients who undergo abdominoplasty surgery.

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Microbes on Our Skin: The Hidden Heroes Against Sun Damage

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery about the skin microbiome, revealing that certain bacteria can protect us from the bad effects of sunlight by metabolizing cis-urocanic acid using an enzyme called urocanase. This enables our skin to fine-tune its response to UV radiation.

The study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, demonstrates the ability of the skin microbiome to remodel host immune functions. Lead investigator VijayKumar Patra, PhD, explains that many internal and external factors influence the composition of the skin microbiome, including individual parameters such as race, gender, age, hormone levels, diet, and hygiene.

Researchers used a combination of microbiome sequencing, immunological assays, in vitro cultures, and gnotobiotic mouse models to study how skin bacteria respond to UVB radiation. They discovered that certain skin bacteria specifically metabolize cis-urocanic acid, a photoproduct of a major UV-absorbing chromophore of the stratum corneum, using an enzyme called urocanase.

Co-investigator Marc Vocanson, PhD, notes that this is the first time a direct metabolic link between UV radiation, a host-derived molecule, and bacterial behavior affecting immune function has been demonstrated. As interest grows in microbiome research and personalized medicine, understanding these microbe-host interactions could reshape the way we think about sun protection, immune diseases, skin cancer, or even treatments like phototherapy.

Co-investigator Peter Wolf, MD, concludes that these findings open the door to microbiome-aware sun protection, where we not only protect the skin from UV radiation but also consider how resident microbes can alter the immune landscape after exposure. In the future, topical treatments that modulate microbial metabolism could be used to minimize, maintain, or enhance UV-induced immunosuppression when clinically beneficial.

Noted expert Anna Di Nardo, MD, PhD, comments on the findings, saying that this pivotal study shows that microbial communities are not passive victims of environmental stress but dynamic regulators of immune responses. This newly uncovered role of microbial metabolism in modulating UV tolerance reshapes our understanding of the skin barrier – not just as a structural shield but as a metabolically active, microbially regulated interface.

With increasing concerns about UV exposure, skin aging, and cancer, a deeper understanding of this axis offers promising avenues for therapy and prevention.