Spray-on skin treats burns

UK researchers are evaluating the use of spray-on skin to treat burns.

The technique was pioneered in Perth, Western Australia and is claimed to cover larger areas more quickly. But it has never been properly tested.

According to a BBC News report , researchers at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, West Sussex, have used the method to treat several patients, including a man with 90% burns.

The researchers now hope to produce evidence that it's worth its high cost, and will examine whether sprayed-on cells go on to become fully functioning skin.

The BBC News report describes the procedure as follows:

A healthy skin sample is taken from the patient, and split in the laboratory to separate out the surface cells, known as keratinocytes.

These cells are then cultured for two to three weeks, and made up into a suspension.

At the same time other skin cell tissue from the patient is put through a different type of meshing machine, known as a meek mesher.

Instead of creating a string vest pattern of tissue, this machine cuts the skin sample into tiny little squares.

The cultured cells are then sprayed on to the small pieces of tissue and combine to create new skin for the patient.