Perspectives on the future of skin-prosthetic interactions
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Hayes, Jack
Santos, Margarida
Higgins, Claire
Masen, Marc
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Skin is filled with a rich network of sensory neurons and consequently skin interaction with, and perception of the external environment, are a continual phenomenon experienced by all people in society. For medical devices such as prosthetics, the mechanical interaction between skin and the device is an essential aspect for device function, but it must be minimised to ensure continued skin health which is inherently intertwined with biological processes. Numerous factors influence the interface properties of skin. For example hydration, which influences skin morphology and composition, in turn influencing skin mechanics that may lead to tissue inflammation and skin injury. Here we review the current state-of-the-art in skin medical device tribology with a particular focus on skin-prosthetic interactions. We split this article into traditional approaches to skin friction and a biology first approach to skin friction, with a paradigm shift of skin as an engineered material. The field of tribology has historically been an interdisciplinary field comprising engineers, chemists and physicists, but future developments are needed in skin biology to drive meaningful change. We envisage that the integration of both clinical and biological perspectives will drive future innovations towards improved medical device interactions with the skin, when paired with engineering perspectives.
Date Issued
2026-03-01
Date Acceptance
2026-01-07
Citation
Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 2026, 23 (236)
ISSN
1742-5689
Publisher
The Royal Society
Journal / Book Title
Journal of the Royal Society Interface
Volume
23
Issue
236
Copyright Statement
© 2026 The Authors. Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.
License URL
Identifier
10.1098/rsif.2025.0549
Subjects
Life Sciences-Engineering interface bioengineering
biomedical engineering
biomechanics perspectives
future
skin
medical
devices
interactions
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
20250549
Date Publish Online
2026-03-04