A premature infant skin model and methods of creating the same are disclosed. One method of creating a three-dimensional premature infant skin model can include providing neonatal skin cells, exposing the neonatal skin cells to a treatment solution including interleukin-6 for a treatment period; and removing the treatment solution from the neonatal skin cells after the treatment period to provide the three-dimensional premature infant skin model.

Provided are skin constructs and methods of making and using the same, such as for wound treatment and/or compound testing, including compound testing for efficacy, toxicity, immune response, penetration, irritation and/or metabolism testing of drug candidates or compositions such as cosmetics.

The present invention relates to models of reconstructed sensitive skin reproducing the features of sensitive skin, as well as to processes for obtaining such models. The present invention further relates to in vitro processes for testing formulations or active ingredients for the prevention or treatment of sensitive skin.

The invention relates to a process for the in vitro preparation of a dermal papilla equivalent from fibroblasts derived from the dermal papilla and/or from the connective tissue sheath; to a process for the in vitro preparation of a hair follicle equivalent by culturing proliferative epithelial cells on said dermal papillae thus obtained; to the in vitro dermal papilla and hair follicle equivalents produced by means of the abovementioned processes, and to the uses thereof for treating alopecia and for evaluating the effect of cosmetic, pharmaceutical or dermatological products.

Methods and compositions for simulating a dermal compartment of skin are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, methods of producing such a skin model include the steps of admixing a collagenous protein source, a blood protein source, and dermal cells in an aqueous carrier, and then allowing the resulting mixture to solidify to produce a gel. In one technique, at least a portion of the mixture, e.g., the collagenous protein source is first heated and then cooled to induce gelation. For example, the mixture can be heated to at least 50 degrees C. and then cooled to temperature below 5 degrees C. to induce gelation.

A method of creating skin tissue is described, particularly, an in vitro or ex vivo method for creating skin tissue. The invention extends to the use of agents that disrupt the LINC complex in a skin cell to create the skin tissue, and to using the created tissue in an assay to identify or screen anti-ageing compounds. The invention further extends to model skin tissues per se, uses thereof and to kits for creating such model skin tissues.

A method of creating skin tissue is described, particularly, an in vitro or ex vivo method for creating skin tissue. The invention extends to the use of agents that disrupt the LINC complex in a skin cell to create the skin tissue, and to using the created tissue in an assay to identify or screen anti-ageing compounds. The invention further extends to model skin tissues per se, uses thereof and to kits for creating such model skin tissues.

A high throughput screening apparatus having a base with channels for receiving a reagent. The channels are spaced across the surface of the base and have one or more walls which extend through the base from a first base surface to a second base surface. A compression member containing a plurality of openings extending through the compression member are positioned across the surface of the compression member, one or more of the openings being positioned for alignment with a corresponding channel in the base. A grip for removably securing the compression member to the base, when a compressible sheet is positioned across the channel between the base and the compression member and fixed by the grip, parts of the compressible sheet are compressed between the base and the compression member to form a seal between the base and the compression member, forming one or more wells for containing the reagent.

Provided is a method capable of efficiently preparing a photoaged cell. Also provided is a novel cell marker that can be used for detection, quantification, or sorting out of a photoaged cell. The present disclosure includes a method for preparing a photoaged cell, including the step of: irradiating a cell with light having an emission peak within a wavelength range of 300 to 315 nm, and a method for detecting or quantifying a photoaged cell, including the step of: detecting or quantifying expression of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of GPR17, CD34, GABRR1, OR2AG2, CMKLR1, CDH19, CD93, AVPR2, CCR7, and OXGR1 in a cell.

The invention relates to a dermis equivalent comprising longitudinally at least two distinct juxtaposed dermal compartments of different compositions, along with a skin equivalent comprising this dermis equivalent.