Frequently asked questions
About TenSkin™
What is TenSkin™?
TenSkin™ is a human, full-thickness ex vivo skin model that preserves the architecture, biology, and physiology of real skin. It is not lab-grown or reconstructed — it is cultured at its natural physiological tension to maintain morphology and function for extended periods.
What is special about TenSkin™?
Mechanical tension is essential for skin homeostasis, driving cell growth, ECM production, and tissue remodeling in response to stress. Human skin, with its complex layered structure, plays vital roles in barrier protection, sensation, immunity, endocrine activity, and temperature regulation. The TenSkin™ culture system uniquely maintains real human skin under physiological tension, preserving these critical characteristics in an ex vivo setting.
How well does TenSkin™ mimic in vivo human skin?
TenSkin™ uses fully consented full-thickness human skin sourced from elective procedures. Our refined processing retains intact epidermal and dermal layers, a functional stratum corneum, normal appendages such as hair follicles and sweat glands, and minor cell populations including immune and pigment cells. What differentiates TenSkin™ is that this real human tissue is maintained under physiological tension, helping preserve skin integrity, viability and responsiveness in an ex vivo setting. This restores in vivo-like behaviour which is significantly impaired in standard untensioned skin models, particularly where mechanics, barrier function, immune response, wound healing, topical delivery, microneedles, injections or environmental exposure are important. TenSkin™ can remain viable for more than two weeks, enabling longer and more complex studies, including repeated applications, chronic exposures, and evolving biological responses.
Which skin layers and structures are preserved in TenSkin™?
TenSkin™ retains the epidermis and the full dermis with the option to include the underlying subcutaneous adipose layer. As real human skin, it also preserves skin appendages such as hair follicles and sweat glands, while maintaining immune cell populations to ensure biologically relevant responses.
How long does TenSkin™ remain viable, and how does it compare to other ex vivo models?
When maintained according to Ten Bio’s protocols, TenSkin™ remains viable and immune-competent for up to 14 days – typically longer than many other ex vivo skin models. This extended viability supports longer studies without compromising physiological function.
Where does the human skin for TenSkin™ come from and is it ethically sourced?
All TenSkin™ tissue is ethically sourced from consenting adult donors via surgical waste from accredited clinical facilities, in compliance with relevant ethical approvals and anonymity requirements.
How is TenSkin™ made?
TenSkin™ is prepared from ethically sourced human skin and mounted in a custom culture frame that restores and maintains natural physiological tension. This preserves tissue architecture and function for extended use.
What are the procedures that provide the skin tissue used to produce TenSkin™?
Most skin is sourced as the by-product of abdominoplasty procedures from our network of cosmetic surgery clinics. However, tissue from other anatomical sites can also be obtained. The Ten Bio team can advise on what is possible in an early consultation.
Is TenSkin™ animal-free?
Yes — TenSkin™ and its culture media contain no animal-derived components and offers a 100% human-relevant alternative to animal testing.
Product Options
Do you supply both products and research services?
Yes — TenSkin™ can be supplied for in-house use, or we can run studies for you in our laboratory as a bespoke full-service offering. Visit our Research Services page to learn more.
What sizes of TenSkin™ are available?
TS-18 – 18 mm diameter (full-thickness skin)
TS-25 – 25 mm diameter (full-thickness skin)
TS-40 – 40 mm diameter (full-thickness skin)
TSA-18 – 18 mm diameter (full-thickness skin with ~ 8mm of attached subcutaneous adipose tissue)
TS-18-W – 18 mm diameter (full-thickness skin with either laser or biopsy wound)
What Fitzpatrick skin types and donor age ranges are available?
A broad range of Fitzpatrick skin types (I–VI) and donor age groups are available. As some donor types and age groups are less frequently sourced, please contact Ten Bio for current availability and estimated wait times.
What age range of skin samples can be provided?
Skin samples can be sourced across a range of donor ages, depending on availability and study requirements. Specific donor criteria can be discussed during project scoping.
How can I access TenSkin™ technology?
TenSkin™ technology can be accessed in several ways depending on your needs. Options include shipment of TenSkin™ models to your laboratory, collaborative research partnerships, or fully managed research services carried out by Ten Bio.
Applications & capabilities
What types of studies is TenSkin™ suitable for?
TenSkin™ supports a wide range of applications, including drug delivery, cosmetic and personal care testing, wound healing, regenerative medicine, microbiome research, infectious disease studies, inflammatory skin disorders, photobiology, pollution studies, and device evaluation (e.g., microneedles). Our team can advise on suitability for your specific protocol.
Can TenSkin™ be used for multi-omics approaches?
Yes. TenSkin™ supports a range of downstream molecular analyses, including multi-omics approaches, allowing biological changes within the tissue to be linked directly to functional and structural outcomes.
Can TenSkin™ be used for wound healing and photobiology studies?
Yes. TenSkin™ supports applications such as wound healing, UV exposure, and photobiology. The preservation of tissue architecture and function enables more relevant assessment of biological responses over time.
How much mechanical force can be applied to TenSkin™ (e.g. for microneedles)?
TenSkin™ is designed to maintain physiological tension, allowing the application of mechanical forces that more closely reflect real-world use. This makes it suitable for evaluating devices such as microneedles, where penetration and performance are influenced by skin mechanics.
How does TenSkin™ perform in TEWL (transepidermal water loss) measurements?
TenSkin™ is designed to preserve barrier function and surface characteristics that are often compromised in conventional ex vivo skin models. TEWL measurements can be used as part of study design to assess barrier integrity, treatment effects, or model performance. Where appropriate, Ten Bio can include TEWL alongside structural, molecular, and functional endpoints to provide a more complete assessment of skin barrier status.
Not sure which approach is right for your program?
Contact Ten Bio to discuss your research question and explore the most appropriate study design.
Ordering & delivery
How do I order TenSkin™?
TenSkin™ is ordered directly by email (info@ten-bio.com). Please contact the Ten Bio team to discuss your study requirements, confirm donor availability, estimated delivery timelines, and pricing.
What delivery options are available?
TenSkin™ is shipped fresh in a solid culture media under temperature-controlled conditions via priority courier. Both domestic and international delivery are available for approved destinations.
Handling & use
How should I prepare to receive TenSkin™?
You will need a biosafety cabinet, tissue culture incubator, and culture dishes. TenSkin™ is supplied with sterile tools and culture medium. Culture dishes should be sterile 60 mm x 15 mm non-treated cell culture (Petri) dishes and we recommend variants with a grip ring for easy manipulation. Shipments are scheduled in advance and tracking details are provided so that your team can be ready to follow the receiving protocol immediately upon arrival.
How do I store TenSkin™?
TenSkin™ is supplied fresh and must be transferred to the supplied culture medium (RM-001) immediately upon receipt. It should be kept in a humidified tissue culture incubator (37°C, 5% CO₂) as per the maintenance protocol. TenSkin™ is not suitable for freezing.
How do I use TenSkin™?
Detailed step-by-step protocols are provided with every order, including preparation, maintenance, and (if required) wounding procedures. Our team can provide technical support as needed.
How do I dispose of TenSkin™ at the end of my experiment?
When the study is complete, TenSkin™ (remaining tissue and culture frame) should be disposed of as biohazard waste.
Research Partner Services
Working with Ten Bio
Ten Bio works with research partners to design and deliver human-relevant ex vivo skin studies using TenSkin™, our physiologically tensioned human skin platform. Whether you are looking for access to TenSkin™ models, support with study design, or a fully managed research program, our team can help shape an approach aligned with your scientific and development objectives.
When should I work with Ten Bio rather than running studies in-house?
Partners often engage Ten Bio when they want specialist support designing and executing studies that generate robust, human-relevant skin data. Our team can help shape the study approach from the outset, select appropriate endpoints, and ensure outputs are aligned with downstream development, commercial, or regulatory objectives. This can be particularly valuable when working with complex endpoints, novel technologies, limited tissue availability, or applications where skin mechanics, barrier function, immune response, wound healing, or delivery performance are important.
Can I combine Ten Bio services with in-house capabilities?
Yes. Ten Bio’s services can complement your internal capabilities or provide a fully outsourced research solution, depending on your resources, timelines, and the level of specialist input required.
How are projects initiated and managed?
Projects typically begin with an initial discussion to understand your scientific question, objective, endpoints, and practical constraints. From there, Ten Bio proposes a tailored study design, including recommended methods, timelines, deliverables, and estimated costs. The study plan is refined collaboratively to ensure the best possible fit with your needs. Each project has a dedicated point of contact to support clear communication and alignment throughout.
How do you handle confidentiality and IP?
Projects are conducted under appropriate confidentiality agreements and, where required, material transfer or research agreements. Study results are treated as confidential, and IP arrangements are agreed upfront before the work begins. In general, each party retains ownership of its background IP, while project-specific outputs and foreground IP are addressed in the relevant agreement. Where publication, wider access, or additional rights are relevant, these are discussed and agreed upfront.
Getting started
Do I need a fully defined study before contacting Ten Bio?
No. Many projects begin with an exploratory discussion. Ten Bio can help refine the research question, recommend appropriate endpoints, and design an experimental approach aligned with your objectives.
What information is useful to provide when contacting Ten Bio?
Useful information includes the scientific question, test article or technology type, preferred endpoints, approximate timelines, and any donor or tissue requirements. If these details are not yet defined, Ten Bio can help shape them during the initial discussion.
How quickly can we get started?
Timelines vary depending on study complexity, donor requirements, and analytical endpoints. In some cases, initial study design and setup can be completed in as little as one week. Experimental timelines may range from short-term assays conducted over a few weeks to longer programs of work performed over several months.
Study design and capabilities
What types of research questions can you support?
Ten Bio supports a broad range of applications across aesthetic dermatology, advanced cosmetics, longevity, and biopharma drug testing and delivery. Example applications include:
• Biomarker discovery and validation
• Drug, formulation, presentation testing
• Microneedle and other delivery device evaluation
• Wound healing studies
• Photobiology and UV response
• Barrier function and skin integrity
• Inflammation and investigation of disease-relevant pathways
The Ten Bio team brings deep experience in skin biology, dermatology, tissue handling, image analysis, and ex vivo study design. This expertise is applied to help define and execute new areas of investigation that are requested by our clients.
Can Ten Bio support custom or exploratory assays?
Yes. Many Ten Bio studies are designed around novel research questions, emerging technologies, or bespoke endpoints. Where an assay or endpoint is not already established, Ten Bio can advise on feasibility, appropriate controls, tissue requirements, and analytical options.
Can Ten Bio design experiments as well as run them?
Yes. Ten Bio provides both study design and experimental execution. This includes selecting appropriate models, endpoints, controls, and analytical methods to ensure the data generated is robust, relevant, and interpretable.
What data and outputs will I receive from a study?
Outputs are tailored to the study but may include:
• Quantitative data aligned to defined endpoints
• Imaging, such as histology, immunostaining, microscopy, or OCT where relevant
• Summary analyses and expert interpretation
• A structured study report suitable for internal decision-making or external regulatory use.
Can Ten Bio support studies intended for external communication or partner discussions?
Yes. Study outputs can be structured to support internal decision-making, partner discussions, investor materials, publications, or other external communication needs where appropriate. The intended use of the data can be discussed during project scoping so that the study design, reporting format, and level of analysis are aligned from the outset.