L’Oreal is partnering with bioprinting company Organovo to print skin samples for cosmetic testing. Organovo has developed a technology that utilizes two print heads, one for human cells, the other for a hydrogel support matrix, to produce small skin samples at a commercial scale. Currently the French beauty company grows their own .5cm square skin samples for testing, breaking down a skin sample to individuals cells and then regrowing them. L’Oreal has been doing this since the 1980s and on a yearly basis creates approximately the amount of skin that is on a cow. After ceasing testing on animals in 2013, they have a growing need to more efficiently create skin samples. Organovo’s 3D printed bio-tissue will be able to generate significantly more skin samples for L’Oreal and with less labor. If all goes according to plan with the technology, the French beauty company will have exclusive access to the tech for non-perscription skin care use. If you haven’t heard of Organovo, it is worth checking them out; the bioprinting work they are doing is impressive.
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