What is it about?
We will review the literature on the electrical properties of the skin divided into two groups: physical properties and physiological properties. The physical properties include electrical resistance and capacitance, which reflect the material properties of the skin itself. At the same time, skin is electrically active tissue based on ionic signal transduction, and the related dynamics are reviewed as physiological properties. We will also summarize the methods for evaluation and treatment of the skin that utilize these electrical properties. In addition, examples of the latest transdermal devices, including electrical wound dressings, iontophoresis patches, and transdermal potentiometry devices, will be presented.
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Photo by Luke Chesser on Unsplash
Why is it important?
The skin is one of the most vital organs for life. It serves as a permeable barrier that protects the living body from external stimuli and internal water loss, maintaining homeostasis. The integrity of the cutaneous system is critical to systemic health, and techniques for electrically measuring and controlling the protective function are promising. Besides, the effective barrier can be electrically broken through for transdermal drug delivery or extraction of biomarkers. The electrical properties of the skin offer various potential applications in medicine and cosmetics as well as in basic science.
Perspectives
The skin is a major gateway for the external approaches, and I believe that the electrical properties of this organ will give certain insight for further engineering research. I hope that more light will be shed on this aspect and expand its application.
Yuina Abe
Tohoku University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Electrical aspects of skin as a pathway to engineering skin devices, APL Bioengineering, December 2021, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0064529.
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