Il MIT in Boston, Massachussetts, he successfully created the first artificial leather. This new development could lead to huge advances in prosthetic technology and treatments for burns and other skin injuries.
How is artificial leather made?
Artificial leather is made from collagen sheets that have been coated with a special type of sugar molecule. When this artificial skin is implanted under the human skin, it bonds with the natural tissue of the patient and begins to release glucose over time. This glucose secretion feeds an enzyme on the surface of the artificial skin which breaks down sugar into energy. The end result is a self-sufficient artificial leather that does not need to be replaced or connected to any external energy source.
The first artificial skin was born, produced by MIT in Boston, a second skin, designed for all those who suffer from pathologies or disorders related to skin such as eczema or psoriasis. It is a very thin material, to be applied on the affected part as you would with any other cream or gel, completely transparent.
The skin protects for the whole day, and thanks to its particular composition it can resist mechanical stress, expanding the covered surface up to 250% (human skin reaches 180%) without tears or internal breakages, to then return to the original shape. Initially the project developed on the previous one Strateris, a cosmetic product to mask aesthetic imperfections, especially those caused by aging. Now, however, we think above all about health: it blocks the passage of moisture that causes skin discomfort.
The timing for the debut on the market is not yet known, nor a set price. We can only make a comparison with Strateris, of which a month of applications costs about $ 500.
This solution is still in development, but has the potential to change how prosthetic technology works. We can't wait to see what comes next!
