The MelanoDerm™ Skin Model

MelanoDerm-Specific Features:

• Co-Culture of Human Keratinocytes and Melanocytes
• Human 3-D Skin-Like Tissue Structure
• Black, Caucasian or Asian Melanocytes Available
• Progressive, Macroscopic Darkening
• Ideal for Skin Lightening/Whitening Studies, Melanogenesis Research

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 from Normal (Non-Transformed) Human Cells - Ideal for Genomics Studies
• 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
• List of Contract Testing Labs Qualified to Run MatTek Tissue-Based Tests Available

NOTE: Link to MelanoDerm Technical Specifications

MatTek's MelanoDerm™ System consists of normal, human-derived epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) and melanocytes (NHM) which have been cultured to form a multilayered, highly differentiated model of the human epidermis. The NHM within co-cultures undergo spontaneous melanogenesis leading to tissues of varying levels of pigmentation. The tissues are produced using serum free medium without artificial stimulators of melanogenesis such as TPA and IBMX. The cultures are grown on cell culture inserts at the air-liquid interface, allowing for topical application of skin lighteners or self-tanning agents. Thus, the model provides a useful in vitro means to evaluate cosmetic and pharmaceutical agents designed to modulate skin pigmentation.

The MelanoDerm Skin Model exhibits in vivo-like morphological and ultrastructural characteristics which are uniform and highly reproducible. NHM localized in the basal cell layer of MelanoDerm are dendritic and spontaneously produce melanin granules which progressively populate the layers of tissue. When cultured for up to 3 weeks (post-shipment), cultures become increasingly pigmented with retention of normal epithelial morphology. Cultures containing NHM derived from black donors show increased pigmentation versus those containing Caucasian-derived or Asian-derived NHM; all three types of cultures are distinctly darker than NHM-free cultures (EpiDerm™). The topical application of known inhibitors of melanogenesis significantly reduce melanin production and macroscopic darkening. Conversely, NHM within the tissue will respond to known stimulants of melanogenesis, such as -melanocyte stimulating hormone and -fibroblast growth factor, to produce tissues which darken faster than untreated controls. Various cosmetic and pharmaceutical laboratories are actively seeking alternatives to expensive and time consuming clinical and whole animal testing. Many companies have initiated MelanoDerm testing to assess the ability of their raw materials and final product formulations to modulate skin pigmentation. A growing body of data demonstrates that MelanoDerm provides an inexpensive, effective means of assessing various skin pigmentation issues while avoiding species extrapolation and the use of laboratory animals.

The protocols for using the MelanoDerm System are clear and straightforward. The organotypic cultures allow for topical or subcutaneous application of melanogenesis inhibitors or stimulators. Analytical methods have been developed to evaluate melanocyte dendricity and viability, pigment granule transfer to adjacent keratinocytes, bulk darkening of tissue, and total melanin content and synthesis rates. Finally, technicians find MelanoDerm's rigid substrate design easy to handle and manipulate.

	Day: 0 3 7 10 14 16       Black melanocytes   White melanocytes Figure 1: Comparison of macroscopic darkening in MelanoDermTM tissue (MEL-300) containing melanocytes harvested from black or caucasion donors

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(Note: There are no In Vitro Product prices on this Web site.)

Please Also Review:

Guide to In Vitro Tissue Model Basics

MelanoDerm Specification Sheet

MelanoDerm Technical References