Decellularized Fetal Porcine Dermis as a Substrate for Skin Models

ABSTRACT Background Human skin is mainly composed of an epidermal layer of stratified keratinocytes and a dermal layer containing fibroblasts and extracellular matrix (ECM). Epidermal–dermal models that replicate both the epidermis and dermis are widely used for skin evaluation. However, it remains challenging to reproduce the complex dermal ECM using artificial materials. Although decellularized dermis from human and animal sources is composed of dermal ECM, its application as a substrate for skin models has not progressed due to the difficulty of recellularization in vitro. Methods We previously reported that cells are more likely to infiltrate into decellularized fetal porcine bone marrow than decellularized adult porcine bone marrow. In the present study, we developed a skin model by seeding human fibroblasts and keratinocytes onto a decellularized fetal porcine dermis (dFPDe). Results Fibroblasts infiltrated into the dFPDe and keratinocytes formed a stratified epidermal layer on its surface. The compressive elastic modulus and permeability of the dFPDe‐based skin model were similar to those of human skin. Conclusions These results suggest that dFPDe could be a useful substrate for the development of physiological skin models.