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Medical laboratory.
The University of Pretoria has developed a novel skin replacement product that paves the way for 3D bioprinting of natural skin, offering a promising alternative to traditional skin grafts.
The acellular dermal scaffold (ADS), which mimics human skin, has shown accelerated healing in animal models, addressing a critical need for treating complex secondary intention wounds.
The researcher, Doctor Hafiza Parkar, says her research was a culmination of an eight-year journey.
Parkar says they developed an acellular dermal scaffold, a skin replacement product for severe wounds, which is an alternative to skin grafting.
“So, what it does is it acts like a framework for the body to grow new healthy tissue. And the really exciting thing with it is because they reduce tissue rejection, which we typically see with grafts. They also speed up healing, and they work really well for complex wounds like burns and ulcers,” says Parkar.
Dr Hafiza Parkar has developed a skin replacement product that enables 3D bioprinting for faster, personalised wound healing – offering a game-changing alternative to skin grafts. Read more: https://t.co/3KvQaProx5#UniversityOfPretoria #UPSpringGraduations pic.twitter.com/I5gGHjTkBq
— University of Pretoria (@UPTuks) September 10, 2025
