Effects of cellular differentiation on autofluorescence emission from tissue engineered epidermis

Malignant melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer, but one of the most successfully treatable if diagnosed early and accurately. Consequently, current research efforts are focused on developing an autofluorescence technique in early detection of malignant transformation of nevi. In order to understand the underlying mechanisms of light interaction with normal skin tissue, we have studied the fluorescence characteristics of tissue engineered pigmented epidermal models as they mature. Observed intensity variations with time are mapped to both the presence of endogenous fluorophores and chromophores within the tissue and the thickness of proliferating and differentiated cell layers. This mapping could be useful in the autofluorescence characterization of malignant tissues.