Chitin Nanofibrils Linked to Chitosan Glycolate as Spray, Gel, and Gauze Preparations for Wound Repair

Abstract

Recent advances in process chemistry have made it possible to make chitosan and chitin nanofibril materials more flexible and useful for the development of new biorelated products. In this study, the effectiveness of three chitin nanofibril/chitosan glycolate-based preparations, a spray (Chit-A), a gel (Chit-B), and a gauze (Chit-C), in healing cutaneous lesions are assessed macroscopically and by light microscopy immunohistochemistry. These evaluations are compared to the results obtained using a laser co-treatment. The wound repair provided by the three preparations is clearly evident even without the synergistic effect of the laser co-treatment. These results confirm the effectiveness of chitin nanofibril/chitosan glycolate-based products in restoring subcutaneous architecture. The spray seems to be most effective in healing superficial lesions, including extensive ones; the gel is more effective in repairing shallow lesions as well as an aesthetic factor while the gauze is effective in slow-healing dermo-epidermal wounds.

A chitin nanofibril-based non-woven tissue as medical dressing: the role of bionanotechnology

“…This property of CN-based composites has been shown to be significant in the modulation of cell behaviour during tissue regeneration [23][24][25]. It seems possible that positively-charged CN, interacting with negatively charged glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans, fundamental components of the ECM, may have an important role in tissue regeneration.…”

From Waste Materials Skin-Friendly Nanostructured Products to Save Humans and the Environment

“…(Figure 3) [14][15][16]. This product quickly causes the alteration of the pathogenic micro-organisms membrane, while it promotes a better and regular collagen production (Figure 4).…”

“…Differently from the chitin powder and according to a newly patented easy process, in fact, many chemical and natural ingredients can be complexed by this crystal-like polysaccharide and then released into the skin/body, at appropriate sites and under certain conditions, without harmful side effects, possessing interesting new biological properties also [8][9][10][11][12][13]. For all these reasons these innovative pure nano-crystallites and their derivatives have been studied to verify their activity in many industrial and biomedical applications [14][15][16][17][18] (Figure 1).…”

Therapeutic and Diagnostic Applications of Nanotechnology in Dermatology and Cosmetics

“…Studies have shown many promising properties of these nanoparticles which include keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation; regulation of collagen synthesis; cytokine and macrophage secretion [80,81]. Apart from these, chitin nanofibrils have been shown to promote wound healing [82,83]. …”