3D Bioprinted Skin: Breakthroughs in Regenerative Medicine | Tomorrow's Cure Season 4 Episode 1

Skin is the body’s largest organ, and its health can reveal far more about aging and disease than what shows up in the mirror. In this episode of Tomorrow’s Cure from Mayo Clinic, host Cathy Wurzer talks with dermatologist and regenerative medicine expert Dr. Saranya Wyles of Mayo Clinic and biomedical engineer Dr. Adam Feinberg of Carnegie Mellon University about “SkinSpan” and the fast-moving world of 3D bioprinted skin.

They explore how layered, living skin models built from human cells and collagen are helping researchers study conditions like eczema, chronic wounds, burns, and age-related changes in skin structure and pigment. The conversation dives into “zombie cells” (senescent cells), what they reveal about skin aging and inflammation, and how skin changes may influence whole-body health.

0:00 Modeling skin’s “cake layer” structure
0:25 Why skin matters in health
0:39 Breakthrough: Fully humanized 3D skin
1:01 Show intro and guest lineup
1:43 What “skin span” really means
2:40 Skin as a mirror of health
3:21 Why bioprinting can rebuild tissue
4:49 Printing with real human materials
6:21 Building skin layer-by-layer
8:17 Replacing animal testing with models
9:13 Why collagen matters for printing
11:18 Creating blood vessels for tissues
12:21 Next steps: nerves and vascularization
13:57 How bioprinting could help burns
17:03 Zombie cells and aging explained
19:43 Senescence links skin to systemic health
21:53 Validating models for FDA use
24:38 Ethics: inclusivity, access, rare diseases
27:41 Open-source bioprinters and workshops
32:34 Barriers to clinical adoption
36:01 What motivates the innovators
39:01 Closing thanks and credits

Visit https://tomorrowscure.com for more information.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as professional, medical or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified health care provider for any medical advice. The appearance of any guest does not imply an endorsement of them, their employer, or any entity they represent. The views and opinions are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mayo Clinic. Reference to any product, service or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Mayo Clinic.

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