Career
Javier Orozco was the first to propose the use of cell culture techniques for industrial use, in order to obtain skin of exotic animals and endangered species, as material for manufacture leather articles, without killing any animal. The culture of human skin and other tissues for medical use, it is possible for several years, and is a very effective treatment in patients with severe and extensive burns. Unfortunately the first materials have been always skin with little mechanical strength.
The first commercially available skin has composed of two major cell types: keratinocytes and fibroblasts.
Eventually have appeared patents, with better cell differentiation, trying to get skin histologically identical to human skin. Javier Orozco proposed using these techniques leading to cell growth in textile matrices which will provide the necessary mechanical strength.
Analyzing the processing of skin to leather (tanning), there are the possibilities of reducing the pollution arising from the tanneries, using less water, salt (sodium chloride), eliminating chemicals to remove hair, such as sodium sulfide.
