South Korean researchers have developed a tangerine-based gel that has the potential to be used to make artificial skin and various cosmetic products, a state-run rural development agency said Tuesday.
The gel, made using fermentative bacteria called SEA623-2, absorbs nutrients found in the citrus and is harmless to humans, the Rural Development Administration (RDA) said, adding it can effectively protect damaged skin from infections. The cellulose gel is the world's first to be made from tangerines.
v"Products that can cover burn wounds and protect against infections are to be made within the year, while use of the material to make artificial skin may take two-three years," Choi Dong-ro, head of the RDA's institute of horticultural and herbal science, said. Specially made gauzes and creams are currently being developed.
He said detailed clinical tests are planned for 2011 and 2012 with permission to use the material being sought from such agencies as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"Since it is made from natural bio-polymer, no bacteria can thrive in the gel, making it ideal as a base material for medical products," the director general said.
He said that because the gel is a non-conductive substance, there may be applications for it in the information technology sector. - PNA
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