The effect of carboxymethyl-chitosan on proliferation and collagen secretion of normal and keloid skin fibroblasts

In this study, different molecular weight CM-chitosans were prepared and the effects on the growth and collagen secretion of normal skin fibroblasts and keloid fibroblasts were investigated in vitro. CM-chitosan promoted the proliferation of the normal skin fibroblast significantly but inhibited the proliferation of keloid fibroblast. The higher CM-chitosan concentration had a higher initial effect and the lower CM-chitosan concentration had a longer affecting time to the normal skin fibroblast. The lower molecular weight CM-chitosan had significant twofold activities. The CM-chitosan could reduce the ratio of type I/III collagen in keloid fibroblast by inhibiting the secretion of collagen type 1; and had no effect on the secretion of types I and III collagen in the normal skin fibroblast. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.