4. Bio-Skin
Photos//2019-20
I remembered hearing that skin grafts often had a 30% failure rate and cost $3-5,000 per sqft, even when the graft was coming from you own body! Why hadn’t anybody addressed this? In an industry that had seen almost no vertical innovation since the invention of skin grafting itself, maybe the price seemed to be another habitual pain that we simply accepted.
For my Science Research Project during my Junior year of highschool, I developed a cost-effective solution for burn wound treatment by combining 3D printing and biotechnology. Inspired by a 2 year internship I had under an OHSU burn surgeon, I developed a dermal mixture of collagen peptides, aloe vera, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, and silver nanoparticles, an designed a syringe extruder that could be attached to any 3D printer. The mixture is non-complex and can be easily prepared in most hospital settings, reducing the cost of skin graft materials from thousands of dollars to under $100. This solution aims to decrease burn wound deaths caused by infections, improper treatment, or lack of medical care. Images of the design process are shown below.
Throughout my remaining time in highschool I continued to refine my dermal extruder, universalizing it for any 3D printer. I also began to work with a patent attorney and various labs to test epithelialization. While the world of medical testing moves at a snail’s pace, I continue to make progress to this day, hoping to make a tangible difference in the field of reconstructive surgery. The project won 1st place in Bioengineering, an invitation to the International Science and Engineering Fair, and the Patty Jeanne Semura Best of Fair award.