Further Development and Innervation of a 96 Well, 3D, Skin Model for Drug and Toxicity Testing

Alcyomics has developed unique non-animal non-artificial human skin explant assays (Skimune & Skimune3D) which can test for safety and efficacy of novel drugs and compounds including cosmetics. Skimune and Skimune 3D have been developed by using human skin, tissue and blood therefore giving a human response to the compounds rather than, the currently used, animal models.

Alcyomics innovative assays enable the products of the pharmaceutical, chemical and cosmetic industries to reach the clinic and/or the market place quicker by early assessment of their safety profiles.

Alcyomics has recently improved their service offering by the aid of Innovate UK funding by developing Skimune3D in a 96 well format. The 96 well format allows for high throughput screening saving clients both money and time and Skimune3D enables multiple dose testing and information on patient drug dosage prior to clinical trial.

In this current project we aim to further exploit this model by bioprinting Skimune3D and validate the bioprinted model for safety testing, therefore creating a more standardised service offering.

Alcyomics will also work with Axol Ltd to incorporate nerve cells into the model in order to enable safety testing for neural toxicity.

In summary this project will increase Alcyomics' service offering and in roads into new global markets and product development.