The EpiDerm™ Skin Model
EpiDerm-Specific Features:
General MatTek Tissue Features:- Unsurpassed Long-Term Tissue Reproducibility -
Lot-to-Lot, Year-to-Year - 3-Dimensional, Highly Differentiated Tissues
- Metabolically, Mitotically Active Tissues
- Produced in Easily Handled Cell Culture Inserts
- Grown in Completely Serum-Free Media System
- Quantifiable, Objective Test Endpoints
- Cost Effective Alternative to Animal and Human Clinical Testing
NOTE: Link to EpiDerm Technical Specifications
MatTek's patented EpiDerm™ System consists of normal, human-derived epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) which have been cultured to form a multilayered, highly differentiated model of the human epidermis. These "ready-to-use" tissues, also known generically as reconstructed human epidermis (RhE), are cultured on specially prepared cell culture inserts using serum free medium, attain levels of differentiation on the cutting edge of in vitro skin technology. Ultrastructurally, the EpiDerm Skin Model closely parallels human skin, thus providing a useful in vitro means to assess dermal irritancy and toxicology.
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The
EpiDermTM Skin Model exhibits in
vivo-like morphological and growth characteristics which are uniform and
highly reproducible. EpiDermTM consists of organized basal, spinous,
granular, and cornified layers analogous to those found in vivo.
EpiDermTM
is mitotically and metabolically
active. Markers of mature
epidermis-specific differentiation such as
pro-filaggrin, the K1/K10 cytokeratin pair, involucrin, and type I
epidermal transglutaminase have been localized in the model. |
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Ultrastructural analysis has revealed the presence of keratohyalin granules, tonofilament bundles, desmosomes, and a multi-layered stratum corneum containing intercellular lamellar lipid layers arranged in patterns characteristic of in vivo epidermis.
The protocols for using the EpiDerm System are clear and straightforward. EpiDerm has been utilized with several common tests of cytotoxicity and irritancy, including MTT, IL-1α, PGE2, LDH, and sodium fluorescein permeability. Technicians find EpiDerm's rigid substrate design easier to handle in routine repetitive testing environments and scientists find that they are able to perform discriminating tests due to low background interference.
Various industrial and toxicology laboratories are actively seeking alternatives to whole animal testing. Cosmetic, household product, pharmaceutical and petrochemical companies have initiated in vitro toxicology testing to evaluate their raw materials and final product formulations A growing body of data indicates that EpiDerm effectively provides a non-animal means to assess dermal toxicology and skin research issues.
Barrier Function Properties
Recent results indicate that MatTek's in vitro skin model, EpiDerm, reproduces many of the barrier function properties of normal human skin. RuO4 stained transmission electron micrographs reveal intercellular lamellar sheets with the characteristic broad-narrow-broad spacing previously observed only in normal stratum corneum. Quantitative thin layer chromatographic analysis shows that EpiDerm contains all the lipids and ceramides present in vivo and a good quantitative correspondence between levels of ceramide l, the linoleate rich acylceramide strongly implicated in the maintenance of normal epidermal barrier function.
Permeability Characteristics
An initial evaluation of EpiDerm's permeability characteristics was made using a side-by-side diffusion chamber. A permeability coefficient, kp, for tritiated water flux was determined for standard EpiDerm (previously EPI-100, now EPI-200) and somewhat more mature EpiDerm (EPI-612). Kp's of 5.0 x 10-3 and 3.6 x 10-3 cm/hr were calculated for EPI-100 and EPI-612 respectively, compared with 2.5 x 10-3 cm/hr for cadaver skin using the same diffusion apparatus. From these initial tests, EpiDerm appears more reproducible than cadaver skin, possibly due to EpiDerm's highly regular structure. Also, permeability studies were facilitated since steady state is reached more quickly due to EpiDerm's uniform thickness. Finally, similar to living epidermis, EpiDerm is metabolically and mitotically active and hence studies using EpiDerm should be more accurate than those obtained using non-viable cadaver or animal skin.
For these reasons, EpiDerm also appears to be a useful substrate for percutaneous absorption, transdermal drug delivery, and other studies relating to the barrier function of human skin.
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Transmission Electron Micrograph of Intercellular
Lamellar Lipid Sheets Broad-Narrow-Broad Spacing
(Magnification 150,000x)
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(See also EpiDerm-201™ Under-developed Skin Model)
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Please Also Review:
Guide to In Vitro Tissue Model Basics
Major EpiDerm Applications
EpiDerm Specification Sheet
EpiDerm Technical References
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