MariCell is intact fish skin which is used to support tissue regeneration in surgical, traumatic, and chronic wounds. [4] Because there is no known risk of viral disease transfer from North Atlantic cod to humans, the fish skin only needs mild processing with our proprietary method.[2,3]
This process preserves the skin’s natural qualities[4], including: its three-dimensional structure, mechanical properties, molecular organization, and composition.[1-4]
MariCell promotes healing with minimal impairment of functionality and positive cosmetic outcomes.[2,5,9] The product is homologous to human skin[1] and when applied to damaged tissue, such as a chronic wounds, provides the perfect environment to support the body’s own cells to regenerate tissue.[1,2,4]
MariCell Benefits
Easy to Apply[6]
Homologous to Human Skin[1]
Improved Wound Closure Rates[2,7,8]
Better Functional Outcome[9]
No Chemical Cross-linking[1]
Dermal and Epidermal Layers Intact[1]
Natural Microbial Barrier and Wound Cover[1,3,4]
Strong, Robust and Conforms to the Wound Bed[1]
Three-dimensional Structure and Natural Porosity Preserved[1]
3-year shelf life with easy storage at or below room temperature
MariCell Product Variations
Maricell
MariCell Standard is intact fish skin that is used to support tissue regeneration in surgical, traumatic, and chronic wounds.
Expanse
MariCell Expanse is a pre-meshed intact fish skin graft which supports healing and tissue regeneration of chronic wounds. MariCell Expanse is specially designed to expand to cover wounds of 100 cm2 and larger that are treated in an out-patient care setting.
Developed for chronic wound management
MariCell can be used on patients, 18 years or older for a variety of wound types, including:
- Partial and full-thickness wounds
- Diabetic foot ulcers
- Venous ulcers
- Arterial ulcers
- Partial-thickness burns
- Trauma wounds (including abrasions, lacerations, skin tears)
- Acute and chronic surgical wounds (including post amputation, dehiscence, and auto-graft donor sites)
Riding the Waves to Recovery
Need more information?
From the town of Ísafjörður in northwest Iceland, Kerecis develops, manufactures, and distributes patented fish-skin medical devices that support soft tissue regeneration in the body, with regulatory clearance in the United States, Europe, and beyond.
Important Information
Magnusson, S., Baldursson, B. T., Kjartansson, H., Rolfsson, O. & Sigurjonsson, G. F. Regenerative and Antibacterial Properties of Acellular Fish Skin Grafts and Human Amnion/ Chorion Membrane: Implications for Tissue Preservation in Combat Casualty Care. Mil. Med. 182, 383–388 (2017). KM-23-0123.6 © 2026 Coloplast A/S. All Rights Reserved.
Baldursson, B. T. et al. Healing rate and autoimmune safety of fullthickness wounds treated with f ish skin acellular dermal matrix versus porcine small-intestine submucosa: a noninferiority study. Int. J. Low. Extrem. Wounds 14, (2015).
Rakers, S. et al. ‘Fish matters’: the relevance of f ish skin biology to investigative dermatology. Exp. Dermatol. 19, 313–324 (2010).
Magnusson, S. et al. Decellularized fish skin: characteristics that support tissue repair. Laeknabladid 101, 567–573 (2015).
Wang, Y., et al. Burn injury: challenges and advances in burn wound healing, infection, pain and scarring. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 123, 3-17 (2018).
Pujji O, Jeffery SLA, Safe burn excision prior to military repatriation: an achievable goal? BMJ Military Health 2018;164:358-359.
Kirsner, R. S. et al. Double-Blind, Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial on 170 Acute Wounds Shows Significantly Faster Healing Rate with Intact Fish Skin Compared to Human Amniotic Membrane. Natl. Am. Podiatr. Med. Assoc. Annu. Sci. Meet. (2018).
Lullove E. J. et al. A multicenter, blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial evaluating the effect of Omega-3– rich fish skin in the treatment of chronic, nonresponsive diabetic foot ulcers. Wounds. Published online April 15, 2021.
Wallner C. et al. A Comparison of Intact Piscine Skin, Split-thickness Skin Graft, and Lactic Acid Membrane in Treating Superficial and Deep Burn Wounds Following Enzymatic Debridement. J Burn Care Res. 2021; 42 (Suppl 1): 125-126.
Patel, M. & Lantis II, J. C. Fish skin acellular dermal matrix: potential in the treatment of chronic wounds. Chronic Wound Care Manag. Res. 6, 59–70 (2019).
Dardari et al. Intact Fish Skin Graft to Treat Deep Diabetic Foot Ulcers: The Odinn Trial. NEJM Evidence. 2024: 5. DOI: 10.1056/EVIDoa2400171
Stone R 2nd, Saathoff EC, Larson DA, et al. Accelerated Wound Closure of Deep Partial Thickness Burns with Acellular Fish Skin Graft. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(4):1590.