Are Kerecis (Omega-3 rich fish skin grafts) hydrophilic?

Are Kerecis Fish Skin Grafts Hydrophilic?

Yes, Kerecis fish skin grafts are hydrophilic, which contributes to their effectiveness as wound healing matrices. 1

Properties of Kerecis Fish Skin Grafts

• Kerecis fish skin grafts are made from omega-3 rich fish skin and possess hydrophilic properties, allowing them to effectively interact with wound environments 1
• The hydrophilic nature of these grafts enables them to create a favorable wound healing environment by maintaining appropriate moisture levels at the wound site 1
• As hydrophilic biomaterials, they demonstrate reduced protein and pathogenic bacteria adherence under physiological conditions, which is beneficial for wound healing 1

Mechanism of Action

• The hydrophilic properties of Kerecis grafts contribute to their ability to:

  • Promote granulation tissue formation, even over exposed bone and tendons 2
  • Facilitate cell migration and proliferation in the wound bed 3
  • Reduce bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation 1

• The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the fish skin serve as precursors for specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) that actively modulate the inflammatory response 4

Clinical Advantages of Hydrophilic Fish Skin Grafts

• The hydrophilic nature of Kerecis grafts contributes to:
  • Faster wound healing compared to alternative treatments such as dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane allografts 3
  • Reduced pain during the healing process 5
  • Fewer required dressing changes 6
  • Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that support improved wound healing 5

Applications in Wound Care

• Kerecis hydrophilic fish skin grafts have demonstrated effectiveness in treating:
  • Necrotizing fasciitis wounds with exposed bone and tendons 2
  • Complex wounds with contamination 7
  • Burns and diabetic foot ulcers 5, 6

Important Considerations

• While fish skin grafts contain omega-3 fatty acids similar to those found in fish oil supplements, the grafts themselves do not pose the same risks of mercury or environmental contaminants that can be present in some fish oil supplements 1
• The hydrophilic properties of the graft facilitate its integration with the wound bed and eventual breakdown through inflammation resolution mechanisms 4
• Clinical evidence supports that these hydrophilic fish skin grafts promote faster healing with less pain and fewer dressing changes compared to alternative wound treatments 5, 3, 6