The effect of chitin and chitosan on the proliferation of human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes in vitro

Chitosan as a starting material for wound healing applications

“…Several studies reported that chitosan promotes migration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) (Ueno et al, 1999), and promotes granulation by inducing proliferation of dermal fibroblasts (Howling et al, 2001). It was shown that chitosan is involved in all stages of wound healing.…”

“…Thereby wounds are cleaned from foreign agents and granulation tissue is formed allowing fibrous tissue formation and re-epithelialization. In the case of formation of hypertrophic scars, which is caused by excessive collagen production in the remodeling phase, chitosan is able to decrease scar tissue, allowing for a good re-epithelialization (Howling et al, 2001). Chitosan also affects the expression of growth factors implied during the healing process.…”

Influence of the Chemical Structure and Physicochemical Properties of Chitin- and Chitosan-Based Materials on Their Biomedical Activity

“…Nwe et al reported that the mechanical properties of chitosan membranes deteriorated when the molecular weight of chitosan increased (New et al, 2009), whereas Hsu et al maintained that it is precisely the high molecular weight of chitosan that gives the chitosan scaffold its better mechanical strength (Hsu et al, 2004a). The reduced proliferation of human skin fibroblast cells on a collagen/chitosan scaffold with increasing chitosan molecular weight was observed by Tangsadtkakun et al (Tangsadtkakun et al, 2007), while Howling et al reported that the M W of chitin and chitosan samples had no appreciable influence on the proliferation of tissue fibroblasts or on keratinocytes (Howling et al, 2001). The major goal of another study was to measure the effects of chitin/chitosan with different molecular weights on wound healing (Minagawa et al, 2007).…”

Human Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells and Chitosan Hydrogels Produce Similar Beneficial Effects in Acute Myocardial Infarctions and Ischemic Cardiomyopathies

“…Chitosan hydrogels, especially in the presence of serum, can accelerate wound healing by stimulating the migration and proliferation of fibroblasts into the wound and the production of collagen by fibroblasts [36,37]. In addition, chitosan hydrogel cross linkable glycosidic bonds can contribute to wound contracture.…”