epicite® biosynthetic cellulose platform

With epicite®, our biosynthetic cellulose platform made by JeNaCell, an Evonik company, we offer an innovative solution for our customers in the areas of wound care and aesthetic dermatology.

Cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls, helping plants to remain upright and stiff. It is the most common polysaccharide and organic compound. Cellulose can also be made by bacteria – mainly acetic acid bacteria. Although plant and biosynthetic cellulose have the same chemical structure, cellulose produced by bacteria has a much higher purity than plant cellulose which also contain byproducts like lignin or hemicellulose.

Biosynthetic cellulose typically consists of around five percent cellulose and 95 percent water. The cellulose is built out of glucose monomers and the bacteria biosynthesize the three-dimensional network out of glucose building blocks, forming cellulose fibers. These fibers form a matrix which holds the water inside. This material is very hydrophilic which is why this biomaterial is often referred to as a hydropolymer.

Our unique, fine-structured biosynthetic cellulose comes with a lot of benefits:

• Mechanical stability
• Thermal stability up to 300°C
• Liquid absorption and retention capacity
• Biocompatibility
• Moisture content control
• Skin-friendly and soft interface
• Flexibility
• Control of material properties and form during biosynthesis

Our three strong brands stand for highest quality and performance in their application area:

• epicite® BALANCE for the treatment of chronic and slow healing wounds
• epicite® CALM for post-treatment care in medical aesthetics
• epicite® RESCUE for effective wound healing in advanced burn treatment