Favorable effects of superficially deacetylated chitin nanofibrils on the wound healing process

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.02.005

Carbohydrate Polymers

Volume 123, 5 June 2015, Pages 461-467

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.02.005 Get rights and content

Highlights

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Surface-deacetylated chitin nanofibrils (SDACNFs) quickly induced re-epitherium.
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SDACNFs effectively induced the proliferation of fibroblast.
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SDACNFs did not induce severe systemic inflammation.
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SDACNFs have a potency as a new functional biomaterials for wound healing.

Abstract

Previous reports indicate that the beneficial effect of chitin nanofibrils (CNFs), and chitosan nanofibrils (CSNFs) for wound healing. In this study, the wound healing effects of superficially deacetylated chitin nanofibrils (SDACNFs) were evaluated using an experimental model. In the experiments using circular excision wound model, SDACNFs induced re-epithelium and proliferation of the fibroblasts and collagen tissue. In the chitin, CNFs, and CSNFs, on the other hand, the e-epithelium and proliferation of the fibroblasts and collagen tissue were not induced perfectly compared with the SDACNFs group. In particular, re-epithelization was observed on day 4 in the only SDACNF group. Moreover, SDACNFs did not induce severe systemic inflammation in the linear incision wound model. The data indicated that SDACNFs effectively induced the proliferation and re-modeling phases compared with chitin, CNFs, and CSNFs in the wound. These data indicate that SDACNFs can be beneficial as a new biomaterial for wound healing.

Introduction

Chitin is widely distributed in nature and is the second most abundant polysaccharide after cellulose (Muzzarelli, 2011). Chitin occurs in nature as ordered macrofibrils and is the major structural component in the exoskeleton of crab and shrimp shells as well as the cell walls of fungi and yeast (Muzzarelli, 2011, Azuma et al., 2014). Recently, several methods of preparing chitin or chitosan nanofibrils have been reported (Ifuku and Saimoto, 2012, Ifuku, 2014). Ifuku et al. (2009) reported the preparation method of chitin nanofibrils (CNFs) by a simple grinding treatment under an acidic condition. superficially deacetylated chitin nanofibrils (SDACNFs) have also been reported (Fan, Saito, & Isogai, 2010). Although the nanofibrils surface in this study was transformed into chitosan by deacetylation, the core was maintained as chitin crystals. More recently, Dutta et al. (2013b) established a method of preparing chitosan nanofibrils (CSNFs) by modifying the methods of Ifuku et al. These nanofibrils are considered to have great potential for various applications because they have several useful properties, such as high specific surface area and high porosity.

In fact, various bioactivities of CNFs and SDACNFs were reported. CNFs suppressed clinical symptoms and colon inflammation in an experimental colitis model (Azuma et al., 2012a, Azuma et al., 2012b, Azuma et al., 2013). SDACNFs suppressed increases in body weight and serum leptin level in a model of obesity induced by high fat diets (Azuma et al., 2014). In addition, Ito et al. (2014) reported the protective effects of CNFs on skin using a 3D skin culture model with Franz cells. It was indicated that the application of CNFs to skin improved the epithelial granular layer and increased granular density.

Previously, many reports have indicated that chitin and its derivatives are beneficial for wound healing (Muzzarelli, 2009, Jayakumar et al., 2011, Minami et al., 2014). More recently, the beneficial effects of CNFs and CSNFs for wound healing were also described (Muzzarelli, 2012, Ding et al., 2014). However, there have been no reports that demonstrated the effects of SDACNFs on wound healing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of SDACNFs on wound healing using an experimental model. Moreover, the differences in the wound healing effects among CNFs, SDACNFs, and CSNFs are discussed.

Section snippets

Materials

Chitin powder from crab shells was purchased from Koyo Chemical (Tokyo, Japan). Chitosan powder was purchased from Tokyo Chemical Industry (Tokyo, Japan) and washed with water by filtration prior to use. Sodium hydroxide and acetic acid were purchased from Wako Pure Chemical Industries (Osaka, Japan) and used as received.

Preparation of CNFs, SDACNFs, and CSNFs

CNFs were prepared by following a previously reported procedure (Ifuku et al., 2009). Chitin (2.0 g) was dispersed in 200 mL of distilled water. The dispersion was roughly

Results and discussions

Previously, some reports indicate the beneficial effects of the materials based on CNFs and CSNFs (Muzzarelli, Mehtedi, & Mattioli-Belmonte, 2014). For example, it is evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the CNFs-derived, wound-healing technology among patients with venous leg ulcers (VLUs) (Talymed^®, Marine Polymer Technologies Inc, Danvers, MA). The proportion of patients with completely healed VLUs was 45.0% (n = 9 of 20), 86.4% (n = 19 of 22), and 65.0% (n = 13 of 20) for groups

Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Creating STart-ups from Advanced Research and Technology (START) project of JST and KAKENHI (26708026) of JSPS.

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¹: These authors contributed equally to this work.

View full text

Favorable effects of superficially deacetylated chitin nanofibrils on the wound healing process

Highlights

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Materials

Preparation of CNFs, SDACNFs, and CSNFs

Results and discussions

Conflict of interest statement

Acknowledgements

Biomaterials

Carbohydrate Polymers

Carbohydrate Polymers

Journal of Pharmatheutical Science

Carbohydrate Polymers

Carbohydrate Polymers

Biomaterials

Carbohydrate Polymers

Biotechnology Advances

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Legal Medicine

Carbohydrate Polymers

Biomaterials

Carbohydrate Polymers

Polymer Science: A Comprehensive Reference

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

Biomaterials

Biomaterials

Journal of Ethnopharmacology