title: Nanoscale alterations of corneocytes indicate skin disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The skin barrier protects the organism against exogenous stressors and simultaneously prevents excessive water loss. While the delicate regulation of skin barrier is not completely understood, morphological and histological evaluation remain key features of clinical investigations. Here, we extended the phenotypic perspective down to the nanoscale.
  
  
  METHODS
  Corneocyte samples were obtained non-invasively by a standard tape stripping procedure from 21 indviduals. Scanning electron (SEM) and atomic force microcopy (AFM) were used to record nanoscale topography. Circular nano-objects were identified and these were quantitated through computer vision.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Typical dimensions of 273 nm height and 305 nm width. We showed that their density does not correlate to age or pigmentation in healthy subjects, but that they were clearly elevated in corneocytes from patients with atopic dermatitis, a common inflammatory skin condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of these corneocyte-nanostructures might be used as a diagnostic parameter for skin disorders - even in cases below a clinical threshold.
authors.affiliation: nAnostic Institute, Centre for Nanotechnology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Franz
authors.affiliation: nAnostic Institute, Centre for Nanotechnology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.|Institute of Astrophysics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beutel
authors.affiliation: nAnostic Institute, Centre for Nanotechnology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gevers
authors.affiliation: Serend-ip GmbH, Centre for Nanotechnology, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.affiliation: Dept. Dermatology and Allergology, Gentofte University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Thyssen
authors.affiliation: Coronel Institute, AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kezic
authors.affiliation: nAnostic Institute, Centre for Nanotechnology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.|Serend-ip GmbH, Centre for Nanotechnology, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riethmüller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: AFM; atopic dermatitis; corneocyte; nanostructure; tape stripping