ERA-NET: Biotech. tools implementation for new wound healing applications of byproducts from the crustacean seafood processing industry

Crustacean shells represent a valuable marine biomass due to its content of the polysaccharide chitosan as well a considerable amount of protein. Today chitosan is used mainly in health care products, as a nutraceutical and in water treatment but there is an increasing interest and effort in finding other more high-cost medical and pharmaceutical applications. Present manufacturing of chitosan involves the use of harsh chemicals and is highly energy demanding. In the Chitowound project we have used biological catalysators (enzymes) to facilitate extraction of chitosan aiming at introducing a more environmentally acceptable and green process. Using milder conditions also prevent the destruction of the proteins, so that this fraction is more suited for diverse applications including as a growth substrate and as feed ingredients. In Chitowound we have targeted the preparation of chitosans towards wound healing applications. The Norwegian company Chitinor have provided chitosans of defined properties for further development. Chitosans of varying properties have been prepared and used as starting materials for further upgrading and development into materials suited for wound healing. These chitosans have further been tested in bio-assays in relation to wound healing applications. Furthermore, a series of novel chitosans have been made that are different from available commercial chitosans. These chitosans have been found to have antimicrobial properties which is important in relation to wound healing, and the properties are different from currently available commercial chitosans.

Prosjektet har ført til økt kompetanse hos på enzymatisk prosessering av marin biomasse for prosjektdeltagerne, samt på framstilling og karakterisierng av kitosaner og kitosan oligosakkarider. Prosjektet har også gitt partnerene et utvidet internasjonalt nettverk som vil bli utnyttet til framtidig samarbeid.

Processing of seafood produces an increasing mass of waste products, and crustacean waste represents a large fraction as compared to fish waste products, e.g. while 75% of a tuna fish can be taken out as fillet, only 40% of a crabs mass is meat. In the project Chitowound we intend to use enzymes to facilitate extraction of the protein fraction and thereby reduce the use of chemicals in the subsequent step of isolating a pure chitin fraction suitable as raw material for high-quality chitosan production. In Chitowound we have targeted the preparation of chitosans towards wound healing applications. Chitosans of widely varying chemical composition, i.e. degree of deacetylation, and with varying molecular weight, will be prepared and used as starting materials for chemical modifications, focusing on peptide grafting. The chitosans (both unmodified and modified, and in different presentation forms, i.e. solutions, suspensions, solids, and membranes) will be tested in bio-assays, and their biodegrability in relation to wound healing applications determined. The most promising chitosans will be tested in selected in vivo wound healing applications. The expected achievements will have a great impact on the environment with less organic carbon release and reduced energy consumption in seafood waste production, as well as new advanced applications of high quality chitosan in wound healing products.