Biomimetic gender-specific human skin model based on gonads/epidermis-on-a-chip

The development of bionic skin is crucial for progressing our understanding of skin physiology and pathologies, while the precise replication of human skin features in skin models remains a challenge. In this study, we present a biomimetic, gender-specific skin model utilizing a gonads/epidermis-on-a-chip platform. This innovative approach seamlessly integrates ex vivo cultured human epidermal tissue and gonad cell aggregates into a microfluidic system, facilitating the exploration of the regulatory effects of sex hormones on the epidermis. Based on this platform, we have found that estradiol can enhance proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of keratinocytes. Conversely, testosterone notably induces keratinocyte differentiation, leading to epidermal hyperkeratosis. These observations align with the well-documented phenomenon that males possess thicker and more durable skin, while females' skin exhibits superior repair capabilities. Thus, we believe that our biomimetic gender-specific skin model can offer a promising avenue for obtaining higher-certainty evidence of human skin-related conditions and find important applications in the areas of cosmetics and biomedicine.