Tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) Collagen for Medical Biomaterials

Collagen is a natural polymer widely used in pharmaceutical products and nutritional sup- plement due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. Collagen is a fibrous protein that supports various tissues, and its primary structure is formed by repeated units of glycine- proline-hydroxyproline. Traditional sources of collagen, such as bovine and pig skins or chicken waste, limit their use due to the dangers of animal-borne diseases. Thus, marine animals are an alternative for the extraction of collagen. The common name of Oreochromis aureus is tilapia, widely cultivated for sale as frozen fillets. During its processing, a large amount of collagen-rich wastes are generated. Therefore, the objective of this book chapter is to prove the potential of tilapia skin as an alternative source of collagen for the elaboration of biomaterials. Additionally to the literature review, experimental results of the extraction and characterization of tilapia skin collagen for use in medical dressings are presented.