NZNTV

TEST. Researchers in Zurich have developed a skin substitute, which could help children suffering from burns to recover faster.

For children the consequences of burn scars are far greater than for adults. Since scars don’t grow as fast as the rest of the skin, young burn victims require regular surgery. After 12 years of research, a team of doctors in Zurich has reached a milestone. For the first time artificial skin was applied to seven children between the age of 8 and 18. This was part of a clinical study, and hopes are that the technique can be used on many other burn victims soon.

The researchers developed the artificial skin from human skin cells. The goal was to find a tissue which not only looks like human skin, but also manages to imitate the skin’s functions. And that it can be applied in a single operation. After tests on animals the tissue was finally ready to be tested on humans.

The artificial skin patches have to be produced in a sterile environment using skin cells from the patients. First results of the study are expected by next summer. The researchers are hoping that patients can benefit from the new technique in 3 to 5 years. (SRF/swissinfo.ch)