Potential applications of human artificial skin and electronic skin (e-skin): a review

Abstract

, +60129336621 There is an ever increasing need to develop artificial skin that can fully mimic the human skin that it replaces. Skin substitute has been commercialized and used in cosmetics and wound healing treatment, with mixed results obtained. Apart from artificial skin, electronic skin (e-skin) is also widely researched because it can be customized into wearable devices. E-skin is commonly characterized by its flexibility and ability to accommodate a large range of sensors in ultrathin films. This paper reviews current development and technology applied to artificial skin and e-skin. First, the basic layers of normal human skin are introduced. Then current development of artificial skin in cosmetics and grafting applications are mentioned in the next section. Latest technology in the fabrication of e-skin and some of its characteristics in different applications are also discussed. Animal ban for cosmetics testing and its positive effects on the development of alternatives to animal testing in experiments are also explained in this paper. Lastly, the current challenges in skin research and recommendations for future application of artificial skin as well as electronic skin are presented. Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanomaterials REVIEW PAPER Keywords: biomimetics\biomaterials\biosensors\self-healing\tissue engineering. ice | science ICE Publishing: All rights reserved differentiation (4,5). To date, there is no artificial skin that could completely replace the actual human skin. However, with the recent progress showing, we are in the right track of producing a reliable and robust artificial skin for general usage. Electronic skin (e-skin) employs the use of sensors to detect changes in environment such as pressure, strain, temperature, and humidity. Technological advancement in the development of e-skin means it has potential use in wearable individual-centered health monitoring, sensitive tactile information acquiring, minimally invasive surgery, and prosthetics (6). The thinness and flexibility of e-skin are some factors that make e-skin desirable and convenient to use. Nonetheless, the challenge lies in creating a tactile-sensing simulation with high resolution, high sensitivity, and rapid response similar to the human skin characteristics (7). This is important as information need to be delivered the fastest way possible in order to provide precise real-time data of the subject.

Advanced Materials and Assembly Strategies for Wearable Biosensors: A Review

“…This mechanical mismatch results in discomfort to users as well as considerable noise signals during data collection. Recent advances in soft functional materials and assembly techniques have led to the development of mechanically stretchable and flexible biosensors that can be unobtrusively integrated into the human skin in a manner that complies with the natural motion of the wearer [2,3]. The thin and flexible nature of these biosensors allows their conformal, seamless contact to the skin while simultaneously providing (i) excellent breathability and deformability for user comfort and (ii) durability to allow repeated attachment and detachment to the skin without irritating the wearer and damaging the devices.…”

Bacterial nanocelullose in biomedical applications: a review

“…[14][15][16][17][18][19] The huge demand for the production of artificial skin, which will largely resemble human skin, has resulted in many studies with interesting results. 20 Currently many skin substitutes are used clinically. The skin has a complex multilayer structure, so in general it is not easy to produce artificial skin which mimics all the properties.…”

“…They are also used as models for experimental tests . The huge demand for the production of artificial skin, which will largely resemble human skin, has resulted in many studies with interesting results . Currently many skin substitutes are used clinically.…”

Melt‐Compounded Keratin‐TPU Self‐Assembled Composite Film as Bioinspired e‐Skin

“…Human skin, mainly having the keratin–elastin composition, protects the interior organs and transduce various mechanical stimuli from the external environment . Because of the promise in advanced humanoid robotics, biomedical prostheses, surgical electronic gloves, etc., immense interests are being motivated for mimicking the human skin by developing stable, flexible, and biocompatible artificial skin of human skin like rheology, tribology, and tactile sensing capability. However, the tactile sensing artificial skin is precisely known as electronic‐skin (e‐skin) …”

“…Although silicone rubber is being used to develop artificial skins or e‐skins for different applications, because of its elastic property, durability, shapeability, nontoxicity, and skin like refractive index, it is cost‐intensive and non‐biodegradable . Due to hydrophobic nature of silicone rubber, limitations also exist in simulating the tribomechanical performance of human skin properly over the full range of conditions .…”