On the Replication of Human Skin Texture and Hydration on a PDMS-Based Artificial Human Skin Model

In the current study, we have developed an artificial skin sample and replicated the textures and hydration of the human skin on it. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and Glutaraldehyde (GA) are used to fabricate an Epidermal Skin Equivalent (ESE) of human skin. Additionally, a PVA-based hydrogel is synthesized, and its hydration property is examined at varying concentrations of PVA. The values of roughness (6.2–10.8 μm), wettability (72–122°), and hydration (10–40% after 24 h) of artificial skin samples fabricated in the present study are found to be very close to that of human skin. The hydration of PVA hydrogel is observed to increase (17–96%) with an increase in PVA concentration (10–30%). Our results highlight that the fabricated artificial skin model closely resembles the surface and hydration characteristics of human skin.