Processed eggshell membrane powder: Bioinspiration for an innovative wound healing product

Non-healing wounds are a major health problem worldwide and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Effective treatments for acute and chronic skin wounds are the focus of intensive research. Eggshell membrane (ESM) is a natural proteinaceous by-product of the food industry and is suitable for biomedical applications. The objective of this study was to evaluate processed eggshell membrane powder (PEP) for the promotion of skin wound healing. PEP was characterized using proteomics and bioinformatics. Proteomic analysis of PEP identified 110 proteins, including structural proteins such as collagen and cysteine-rich eggshell membrane proteins (CREMPs) that together constitute about 40% of PEP. Functional annotation clustering showed various predicted functionalities related to wound healing including response to external stimulus, defense response, inflammatory response, and cell-substrate adhesion. The impact of PEP on wound healing was determined using the mouse excisional wound splinting model with a subsequent assessment by histopathology. PEP was found to significantly accelerate wound closure at days 3, 7, and 10. Histological assessment showed significantly thicker granulation tissue in wounds treated with PEP than non-treated controls at days 10 and 17. In addition, histological scoring showed higher levels of collagen deposition at day 10 in wounds treated with PEP, with limited inflammatory reaction. Therefore, PEP is a biocompatible and non-cytotoxic biomaterial that has great potential for development into a cost-effective wound healing product.