Collagen For Biomedical Applications Research Articles

Age-Related Properties of Aquaponics-Derived Tilapia Skin (Oreochromis niloticus): A Structural and Compositional Study.

In the last two decades, fisheries and fish industries by-products have started to be recovered for the extraction of type I collagen because of issues related to the extraction of traditional mammalian tissues. In this work, special attention has been paid to by-products from fish bred in aquaponic plants. The valorization of aquaponic fish wastes as sources of biopolymers would make the derived materials eco-friendlier and attractive in terms of profitability and cost effectiveness. Among fish species, Nile Tilapia is the second-most farmed species in the world and its skin is commonly chosen as a collagen extraction source. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have been carried out to investigate, in depth, the age-related differences in fish skin with the final aim of selecting the most advantageous fish size for collagen extraction. In this work, the impact of age on the structural and compositional properties of Tilapia skin was evaluated with the aim of selecting the condition that best lends itself to the extraction of type I collagen for biomedical applications, based on the known fact that the properties of the original tissue have a significant impact on those of the final product. Performed analysis showed statistically significant age-related differences. In particular, an increase in skin thickness (+110 µm) and of wavy-like collagen fiber bundle diameter (+3 µm) besides their organization variation was observed with age. Additionally, a preferred collagen molecule orientation along two specific directions was revealed, with a higher fiber orientation degree according to age. Thermal analysis registered a shift of the endothermic peak (+1.7 °C) and an increase in the enthalpy (+3.3 J/g), while mechanical properties were found to be anisotropic, with an age-dependent brittle behavior. Water (+13%) and ash (+0.6%) contents were found to be directly proportional with age, as opposed to protein (-8%) and lipid (-10%) contents. The amino acid composition revealed a decrease in the valine, leucine, isoleucine, and threonine content and an increase in proline and hydroxyproline. Lastly, fatty acids C14:0, C15:0, C16:1, C18:2n6c, C18:3n6, C18:0, C20:3n3, and C23:0 were revealed to be upregulated, while C18:1n9c was downregulated with age.

Fish Scales as a Biocomposite of Collagen and Calcium Salts

Collagen for biomedical applications is mainly isolated from animal tissues (bovine or porcine skin and bovine or equine Achilles tendons). Type I collagen has been also extracted from skin, bone, fins and scales of fresh water and marine fishes. Fish scales are composed of collagen covered with calcium salts. In the present study we report the preparation of collagen from fish scales for potential cosmetic, pharmaceutical and implant applications. In our laboratory collagen was isolated from scales ofEsox lucius. It was the first time that this species were used as sources of collagen. Extraction of collagen from fish scales was done in two steps. In the first step, fish scales were demineralized using EDTA. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis of demineralized scale was carried out for quantitative estimation of inorganic content. Then, demineralized fish scales were dissolved in acetic acid. Collagen isolated fromEsox Luciusmay serve as an attractive and safe source of collagen for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Fish collagen can be processed in sheet, sponges foams, injectable viscous solution, and dispersions.