CHAKKWAN NGAN

Second-degree burns often pose treatment challenges due to infection control difficulties, inadequate dressing adherence, and limited support for effective wound healing. Inspired by the natural enzyme activity of pineapple, this project proposes "Second Skin," an innovative burn treatment utilizing a sprayable hydrogel primarily composed of sodium alginate, calcium chloride, bromelain extracted from pineapple stems, and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Unlike traditional burn treatments—which generally involve surgical debridement, gauze-based dressings, or passive hydrogels—this design rapidly creates a dual-layer protective membrane directly on the burn surface.

The top hydrogel layer, formed by crosslinking sodium alginate with calcium chloride, provides a robust barrier against bacterial invasion. Beneath this, the second layer sequentially releases pineapple-derived bromelain for effective enzymatic debridement of damaged tissue, followed by EGF to support rapid tissue regeneration. Delivered through a user-friendly two-canister spray device, "Second Skin" is easy to apply without specialized equipment, making it particularly valuable in resource-limited settings. It exhibits superior biocompatibility, broad-spectrum antibacterial properties, and enhanced conformability, ideally suited to challenging anatomical areas such as the hands and face, for burns covering up to 15% of total body surface area (excluding chemical or electrical injuries). By combining pineapple’s enzymatic healing potential with barrier protection and regenerative functions, "Second Skin" significantly advances beyond conventional burn-care strategies.