Upcoming Trial to Use 3D Bioprinting in Improving the Treatment of Extensive Burns

Burns are the cause of death of around 180,000 people each year, according to the WHO. Severe burns, especially those affecting a large part of the body, are still a major challenge for modern medicine. Current treatments consist of skin grafting, using the patient’s own healthy tissue to cover the wounds. However, in cases where the burned area is very large, finding enough healthy skin is practically impossible. This is compounded by scarring, chronic pain and other side effects, which significantly impact the quality of life of the survivors. In this context, an innovative technique based on 3D bioprinting and stem cell culture could be the solution for the treatment of extensive burns.

In early 2025, the Centre for Burn Research at the Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) hospital network in Canada will begin a clinical trial that will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of using stem cells extracted from patients’ burned skin. This method promises to regenerate tissue without relying exclusively on healthy skin, something that they hope will completely change the landscape in the treatment of extensive burns. These stem cells from the burned tissue will be used to compose a biological ink to make new skin.

The study will use bio-inks composed of stem cells to obtain new skin (photo credits: Hamilton Health Sciences)

The path to this innovation began in an unexpected way. A few years ago, during a surgical intervention in a Toronto hospital, a technician mistook burned skin samples for healthy skin, tried to extract stem cells from them, and it worked. This mistake proved that the burned tissue contained viable stem cells. This mistake inspired research led by Dr. Jeschke, published in 2018. In that research, the cells were shown to be not only usable, but also effective in promoting healing in animals, such as mice and pigs. This finding broke paradigms, as burned tissue was previously considered “disposable” material.