Abstract: A foamable resin composition according to the present invention comprises starch, an aliphatic polyester and water, and wherein 10 to 40 parts by mass of the water and 10 to 80 parts by mass of the aliphatic polyester are included with respect to 100 parts by mass of the starch. The foamable resin composition preferably comprises 3 to 60 parts by mass of a glycerin with respect to 100 parts by mass of the starch. The whole composition of the foamable resin composition is made of a biodegradable raw material, and the molded product of the composition has excellent water resistance and favorable moldability, is free from problems in mechanical characteristics such as strength, and also has a cost advantage.

Abstract: A foamable resin composition according to the present invention comprises 10 parts by weight or less, preferably 0.5 to 8 parts by weight of a biodegradable resin and/or polyolefin resin, 10 to 30 parts by weight of water and 0.01 to 5 parts by weight of an inorganic filler, with respect to 100 parts by weight of a modified starch. The modified starch is preferably at least one of oxidized starches, esterified starches, acetylated starches and cationic starches. The foamable resin composition can maintain strength, etc., of the foamed body obtained at a practical level even though the amount of the biodegradable resin and/or polyolefin resin is reduced as much as possible, and has a cost advantage.

Abstract: A collagen is extracted and produced from a raw fish skin through the steps: a salt admixing step for admixing a salt (e.g. NaCl, KCl or the like) with a raw fish skin so as to allow non-collagen substances or portions (including fats and other tissue portions than a collagen portion) to be removed from the fish skin, while simultaneously degreasing and deodorizing the skin under the salt effect; a salt removal step for causing the admixed salt and non-collagen substances or portions to remove from the skin, achieving the fats removal and deodorization; a collagen extraction step for extracting a collagen (gelatinous) from the thus-treated skin; and a filtration step for filtering and refining the extracted collagen so as to obtain a refined collagen. The refined collagen may be dried and solidified. Thus, since the inexpensive salt is used for effective removal of non-collagen substances or portions to obtain a collagen portion, the method itself is simplified and economical.

Abstract: There is provided a skin substitute that can suitably be used for covering the surface of a damaged skin area which is typically a wound produced by a traumatic local loss of the skin of the human body as a result of a burn or some other cause of damage. It is a skin substitute of a laminate comprising a squid chitin sheet and a fish skin collagen coat layer, which may be a salmon skin collagen coat layer. Such a skin substitute effectively exploits the suppleness and the effect of proving an environment for encouraging the production of lysozyme and defending the wound of squid chitin and, at the same time, compensate the disadvantage of poor adhesion of fibroblast cells that operate for curing the wound.