TISSUE ENGINEERING OF SKIN

The skin plays a crucial role in protecting the integrity of the body' s internal milieu. The loss of this largest organ is incompatible with sustained life. In reconstructive surgery or burn management, substit ution of the skin is often necessary. In addition to traditional appro aches such as split- or full-thickness skin grafts, tissue flaps and f ree-tissue transfers, skin bioengineering in vitro or in vivo has been developing over the past decades. It applies the principles and metho ds of both engineering and life sciences toward the development of sub stitutes to restore and maintain skin structure and function. Currentl y, these methods are valuable alternatives or complements to other tec hniques in reconstructive surgery. This review article deals with the evolution and current approaches to the development of in vitro and in vivo epidermis and dermis.