Discover your next big idea for life sciences at PACK EXPO Las Vegas
Experience a breakthrough in life sciences packaging—explore solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries, all in one place this September

Forget Grafts, Now We Can Regrow Skin in Open Wounds

Scientists at Salk Institute found a way to reprogram cells into the base layer of skin cells to heal life-threatening wounds.

Epithelial (skin) tissues were generated by converting one cell type (red: mesenchymal cells) to another (green: basal keratinocytes) within a large ulcer in a laboratory mouse model / Image: Salk Institute
Epithelial (skin) tissues were generated by converting one cell type (red: mesenchymal cells) to another (green: basal keratinocytes) within a large ulcer in a laboratory mouse model / Image: Salk Institute

Severe wounds caused by burns or ulcers destroy the base layer of skin cells necessary for regenerating, leaving just one option for healing: surgical skin grafts. However, a recent Independent article discussed a new development that will very likely change the script on how the body heals from life-threatening wounds. A team of researchers at San Diego’s Salk Institute has identified four key cellular components that skin needs to regenerate and found a way to create them by reprogramming other cells within a wound.

The natural healing process works by slowly closing the perimeter around the wound, but the team set out to essentially create skin from nothing. They inspected cellular products of keratinocyte and wound cells and identified 55 protein molecules pertinent to skin regrowth. Through trial and error, they whittled it down to just four key proteins and loaded their genetic instructions into retroviruses and applied them to non-healing ulcers on mice. New skin formed within 18 days. The discovery gives hope for simple treatments for hard-to-heal wounds that typically plague the elderly and patients with diabetes.

List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Looking for CPG-focused digital transformation solutions? Download our editor-curated list from PACK EXPO featuring top companies offering warehouse management, ERP, digital twin, and MES software with supply chain visibility and analytics capabilities—all tailored specifically for CPG operations.
Download Now
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Pharmaceutical Innovations Report
Discover the latest breakthrough packaging technologies shaping the pharmaceutical sector. This report dives into cutting-edge innovations, from smart containers that enhance patient safety to eco-friendly materials poised to transform the industry’s sustainability practices. All from PACK EXPO. Learn how forward-thinking strategies are driving efficiency and redefining what’s possible in pharma packaging.
Learn More
Pharmaceutical Innovations Report