3D-printed skin offers promising alternative to animal testing in cosmetics

Researchers from Austria and India have developed an innovative 3D-printed skin model capable of evaluating the absorption and safety of new cosmetic products and ingredients.

This new model aims to address ongoing challenges in testing substances such as nano-sized ingredients – nanoparticles - commonly found in products like sunscreens. While the EU has banned animal testing for cosmetic products since 2004—and for cosmetic ingredients since 2009—there remains a need for reliable, animal-free methods to assess product safety.

Research teams, from Graz University of Technology (Austria) and Vellore Institute of Technology (India), developed a 3D-printed skin replica using a specially formulated hydrogel (a water-based gel). This material supports the survival and growth of human skin cells for more than three weeks, allowing the printed model to closely mimic the structure and function of real human skin.

The 3D printing approach ensures that the model replicates not only the physical layers of skin but also its biological functions, enabling more accurate testing of ingredient toxicity and absorption. By providing a viable environment for living skin cells, the hydrogel allows researchers to observe cellular responses to various compounds in conditions that resemble real human tissue.

“We are now working together to further optimise the hydrogel formulations and validate their usefulness as a substitute for animal experiments,” said Prof. Karin Stana Kleinschek, who co-led the study.