After accounting of the solute and extrusion of aqueous solution from a
micropore nozzle, a roller at constant speed is used to produce a multifilament with
an outer diameter of several microns. Remaining solvent is removed with water,
and the chitin is cut to lengths of around 5 mm for treatment to increase protein
adsorption, after which a paper is formed with polyvinyl alcohol as a binder. In
other words, the process is the same as creating a non-woven fabric with a thickness
of 100–120 lm (Kibo 1994).
D. Chitin-Based Artificial Skin: Astonishing Results
Precise growth was observed when mouse-derived fibroblasts were grown on a
transparent chitin film. Adhesion conditions were also superior to those of cellulose
films, showing that Beschitin W has positive effects on epidermal tissue formation
without negatively influencing the growth of normal cells at the wound’s surface.
Artificial skin made with chitin can be used in most wound protection agents.
Excellent effects in terms of pain relief, resistance to adhesive solvents, drying, and
epidermis formation have been observed with use in thermal burns and skin ulcers.
Halfside testing (a method that involves dividing the epithelium in two halves and
treating with several degrees of material) has been conducted at 22 university and
general hospitals nationwide for donor sites (averaging 15 thousandths of an inch)
with similar dressing protection agents, freeze-dried pig skin (LPS), freeze-dried
dermal skin (LDPS), collagen membranes, and bioplan (silicon applied to nylon
fibers and treated with peptides). The method involves observing pain relief effects,
adhesion, resistance to solvents, dryness, epidermis formation, and extraction
quantities while treatment was being carried out, and comparing differences through
the treatment’s completion (Kumar 2000).
No side effects were observed during the treatment period. Negative results were
observed in all forms of safety testing, including acute toxicity, sub-acute toxicity,
epidermal reaction, febrility, physical property, grafting, cell toxicity, hemolytic,
mutagenicity, and antigenicity testing. High degrees of safety were observed in all
cases.
When epidermis cells from chitin are grown beforehand as a porous body and
grafted onto a deep wound, a perfect epidermis is formed from the chitin’s
breakdown as the cells grow. This real-life example of artificial skin has long been
marketed in Japan under the dame Beschitin W, and is currently being exported to
South Korea. As it is used more and more in clinical settings, its characteristics will
be better understood, and its applications may extend to include recovery from
injuries to other parts of the body besides skin.
The functionality of chitin also holds great potential for improvement through
chemical modification. If this comes to pass, its possibilities as a biomaterial may
expand beyond what has been described here. The time may soon arrive when
chitin from the shrimp and crab shells that are currently waste products from marine
processing are used to heal wounds from burns or traffic accidents without leaving a
scar.
264
8 Developing Functional Materials with Marine Organisms
micropore nozzle, a roller at constant speed is used to produce a multifilament with
an outer diameter of several microns. Remaining solvent is removed with water,
and the chitin is cut to lengths of around 5 mm for treatment to increase protein
adsorption, after which a paper is formed with polyvinyl alcohol as a binder. In
other words, the process is the same as creating a non-woven fabric with a thickness
of 100–120 lm (Kibo 1994).
D. Chitin-Based Artificial Skin: Astonishing Results
Precise growth was observed when mouse-derived fibroblasts were grown on a
transparent chitin film. Adhesion conditions were also superior to those of cellulose
films, showing that Beschitin W has positive effects on epidermal tissue formation
without negatively influencing the growth of normal cells at the wound’s surface.
Artificial skin made with chitin can be used in most wound protection agents.
Excellent effects in terms of pain relief, resistance to adhesive solvents, drying, and
epidermis formation have been observed with use in thermal burns and skin ulcers.
Halfside testing (a method that involves dividing the epithelium in two halves and
treating with several degrees of material) has been conducted at 22 university and
general hospitals nationwide for donor sites (averaging 15 thousandths of an inch)
with similar dressing protection agents, freeze-dried pig skin (LPS), freeze-dried
dermal skin (LDPS), collagen membranes, and bioplan (silicon applied to nylon
fibers and treated with peptides). The method involves observing pain relief effects,
adhesion, resistance to solvents, dryness, epidermis formation, and extraction
quantities while treatment was being carried out, and comparing differences through
the treatment’s completion (Kumar 2000).
No side effects were observed during the treatment period. Negative results were
observed in all forms of safety testing, including acute toxicity, sub-acute toxicity,
epidermal reaction, febrility, physical property, grafting, cell toxicity, hemolytic,
mutagenicity, and antigenicity testing. High degrees of safety were observed in all
cases.
When epidermis cells from chitin are grown beforehand as a porous body and
grafted onto a deep wound, a perfect epidermis is formed from the chitin’s
breakdown as the cells grow. This real-life example of artificial skin has long been
marketed in Japan under the dame Beschitin W, and is currently being exported to
South Korea. As it is used more and more in clinical settings, its characteristics will
be better understood, and its applications may extend to include recovery from
injuries to other parts of the body besides skin.
The functionality of chitin also holds great potential for improvement through
chemical modification. If this comes to pass, its possibilities as a biomaterial may
expand beyond what has been described here. The time may soon arrive when
chitin from the shrimp and crab shells that are currently waste products from marine
processing are used to heal wounds from burns or traffic accidents without leaving a
scar.
264
8 Developing Functional Materials with Marine Organisms