Final answer:
Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) is used on skin intended for transplantation due to its ability to sterilize without degrading the tissue, preserving the integrity while being safe and effective.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbonic gas, specifically in the form of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂), should be used on skin that is intended for transplantation. The benefits of scCO₂ stem from its properties of being nonreactive, nontoxic, and nonflammable, which make it safe for such medical applications. Furthermore, this protocol operates effectively at low temperatures, a significant advantage over methods like heat or irradiation, which may degrade the materials they're meant to sterilize.
Since scCO₂ can also penetrate cells and form carbonic acid, lowering the pH and leading to sterilization, it's become popular in both commercial and medical industries for pest control and for disinfecting tissues such as skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments prior to transplantation. Its ability to preserve the integrity of these tissues, without harmful side effects, underscores why it is gaining popularity for these purposes.