Could pulsed electric field technology revolutionize skin engineering? This review explores the potential of pulsed electric field (PEF) technology as a sustainable approach for developing skin tissue constructs. Tissue engineering faces challenges in production costs and environmental impact. PEF technology, a nonthermal processing method, offers a promising solution by modifying skin cell behavior and biomaterial properties. This comprehensive review analyzes the key principles of PEF and its various applications in skin engineering, with an emphasis on its ability to modify cell behavior and enhance biomaterials. The paper discusses how PEF technology can be applied to skin cells to alter their behavior and to biomaterials to assist in isolation, sterilization, or property modification. It highlights the importance of evaluating key parameters like electric field strength and their impact on different skin cell and biomaterial types. This review suggests that systematic evaluation of key parameters will be critical for PEF's successful implementation in tissue engineering. Linking input parameters to biological responses crucial for healing will aid in developing PEF as a sustainable tool for skin repair and other tissue engineering applications. The findings highlight the need for further research to optimize PEF parameters and explore its broader applications in regenerative medicine.
Published in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, this review aligns directly with the journal's scope by exploring the use of pulsed electric field technology in skin engineering. The focus on both bioengineering and biotechnology aspects makes this a highly relevant contribution.