Artificial skin is a collagen scaffold that induces regeneration of skin in mammals such as humans. The term was used in the late 1970s and early 1980s to describe a new treatment for massive burns. It was later discovered that treatment of deep skin wounds in adult animals and humans with this scaffold induces regeneration of the dermis.[1] It has been developed commercially under the name Integra and is used in massively burned patients, during plastic surgery of the skin, and in treatment of chronic skin wounds.[2]
Alternatively, the term "artificial skin" sometimes is used to refer to skin-like tissue grown in a laboratory, although this technology is still quite a way away from being viable for use in the medical field. 'Artificial skin' can also refer to flexible semiconductor materials that can sense touch for those with prosthetic limbs (also experimental).
- ^ Garfein, E. (2009). "2 – Skin replacement products and markets". In Orgill, Dennis; Blanco, Carlos (eds.). Biomaterials for Treating Skin Loss. Woodhead Publishing Series in Biomaterials. Woodhead Publishing. pp. 9–17. doi:10.1533/9781845695545.1.9. ISBN 9781845693633.
- ^ Winfrey, M. E.; Cochran, M.; Hegarty, M. T. (January 1999). "A new technology in burn therapy: INTEGRA artificial skin". Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing. 18 (1): 14–20. doi:10.1097/00003465-199901000-00003. ISSN 0730-4625. PMID 10639995.