Collagen typing of granulation tissue induced by chitin and chitosan

Granulation tissue induced by chitin- or chitosan-coated polyester nonwoven fabric (chitin-NWF, chitosan-NWF) and uncoated NWF (control) implanted in the feline abdominal wall was evaluated by macroscopic and microscopic observation. Tissue growth around the implant was most marked with chitosan-NWF and least with chitin-NWF. The inflammatory reaction was much stronger with chitosan-NWF. In the tissue surrounding the implant, many giant cells and prominent angiogenesis were induced by chitin-NWF compared to the other NWFs. Types I, III and IV collagen were synthesized at higher levels in the chitin-NWF implants, especially type IV collagen, compared with the other implants. At 14 days after implantation, the levels of types III and IV collagen were also greater in the tissue surrounding the chitin-NWF. The pattern of synthesis of each type of collagen induced by chitosan-NWF in the surrounding tissue closely resembled that of the control. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.