Key points from article :
Researchers at POSTECH, led by Professor Dong Sung Kim, have made a breakthrough in understanding how wrinkles form in biological tissues. Their study, published in Nature Communications, goes beyond the cosmetic aspects of wrinkles, exploring their presence in various organs like the brain and intestines. These wrinkle patterns are crucial for tissue functions and cellular behavior, but replicating them in the lab has been challenging, often requiring animal models.
The team developed a new model using human epithelial cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) to recreate these wrinkle structures in vitro. By applying different levels of compressive force, they successfully mimicked the formation of both deep and small wrinkles, similar to those found in living tissues. They discovered that factors such as dehydration and the porous nature of the ECM are critical in the wrinkle formation process, providing insights into the mechanics of ageing skin.
Professor Kim highlighted that this platform offers real-time imaging of wrinkle formation without the need for animal testing. This breakthrough has potential applications in skin ageing research, regenerative medicine, embryology, and the cosmetics industry.
