Chinese researchers promise cheaper artificial skin for burn patients

A piece of artificial skin made from bovine achilles tendon. (Photo/zjol.com.cn)

Researchers at an eastern Chinese hospital said experiments on pigs of an artificial skin made from bovine achilles tendon have been completed and the procedure has entered clinical testing.

In China, massively burned patients must use skin transplanted from their own bodies or costly artificial skin imported from the United States, according to Han Chunmao, director of the burns department at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine.

Han said artificial skin from the U.S. is susceptible to infection three weeks after grafting and that the vascularization process may be accelerated. He said the new artificial skin made by the hospital appears to function better in animal testing.

The team chose bovine achilles tendon because its main component "collagen" is similar to human skin.

Han also said his research team has been focusing on lowering the cost of the procedure.

Editor: Eric Wang