In-vivo dynamic mechanical analysis of human skin: A standardized protocol using SkinMech-DMA

IF 8.2 2区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Materials & Design Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-27 DOI:10.1016/j.matdes.2026.115567

Guyeli Yang , Ran Huang , Jun Zhu , Congcong Li , Xin Ma

{"title":"In-vivo dynamic mechanical analysis of human skin: A standardized protocol using SkinMech-DMA","authors":"Guyeli Yang , Ran Huang , Jun Zhu , Congcong Li , Xin Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.matdes.2026.115567","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate characterization of skin mechanics is essential for understanding aging, pathology, and the design of biomimetic materials. However, in-vivo methods capable of quantifying the dynamic viscoelastic properties of skin remain limited. We present a Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) approach using a voice-coil motor-driven system that applies cyclic tensile loading to living skin. Crucially, we introduce an apparent modulus definition validated by Finite Element Analysis (FEA), enabling quantitative, site-specific, and frequency-dependent characterization. Feasibility was confirmed on silicone elastomers, where results matched a universal tensile tester, demonstrating accuracy and sensitivity. In-vivo measurements on facial and dorsal hand skin revealed key dynamic material behaviors, including frequency-dependent softening, anisotropy, nonlinearity, and viscoelastic energy dissipation. This methodology for standardized assessment of human skin mechanics can bridge biomaterials research and living tissue analysis and provide a foundation for future clinical and translational applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":383,"journal":{"name":"Materials & Design","volume":"263 ","pages":"Article 115567"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Materials & Design","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127526001371","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/1/27 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Accurate characterization of skin mechanics is essential for understanding aging, pathology, and the design of biomimetic materials. However, in-vivo methods capable of quantifying the dynamic viscoelastic properties of skin remain limited. We present a Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) approach using a voice-coil motor-driven system that applies cyclic tensile loading to living skin. Crucially, we introduce an apparent modulus definition validated by Finite Element Analysis (FEA), enabling quantitative, site-specific, and frequency-dependent characterization. Feasibility was confirmed on silicone elastomers, where results matched a universal tensile tester, demonstrating accuracy and sensitivity. In-vivo measurements on facial and dorsal hand skin revealed key dynamic material behaviors, including frequency-dependent softening, anisotropy, nonlinearity, and viscoelastic energy dissipation. This methodology for standardized assessment of human skin mechanics can bridge biomaterials research and living tissue analysis and provide a foundation for future clinical and translational applications.

查看原文本刊更多论文

人体皮肤的体内动态力学分析：使用SkinMech-DMA的标准化协议

皮肤力学的准确表征对于理解衰老、病理和仿生材料的设计至关重要。然而，能够量化皮肤动态粘弹性特性的体内方法仍然有限。我们提出了一种动态力学分析（DMA）方法，使用音圈电机驱动系统，对活皮肤施加循环拉伸载荷。至关重要的是，我们引入了一个由有限元分析（FEA）验证的表观模量定义，实现了定量、特定地点和频率相关的表征。在硅胶弹性体上证实了可行性，其结果与通用拉伸测试仪相匹配，证明了准确性和灵敏度。对面部和手背皮肤的体内测量揭示了关键的动态材料行为，包括频率相关的软化、各向异性、非线性和粘弹性能量耗散。这种人体皮肤力学的标准化评估方法可以桥梁生物材料研究和活组织分析，并为未来的临床和转化应用提供基础。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Materials & Design Engineering-Mechanical Engineering

CiteScore

14.30

自引率

7.10%

发文量

1028

审稿时长

85 days

期刊介绍： Materials and Design is a multi-disciplinary journal that publishes original research reports, review articles, and express communications. The journal focuses on studying the structure and properties of inorganic and organic materials, advancements in synthesis, processing, characterization, and testing, the design of materials and engineering systems, and their applications in technology. It aims to bring together various aspects of materials science, engineering, physics, and chemistry. The journal explores themes ranging from materials to design and aims to reveal the connections between natural and artificial materials, as well as experiment and modeling. Manuscripts submitted to Materials and Design should contain elements of discovery and surprise, as they often contribute new insights into the architecture and function of matter.