Collagen: A Promising Molecule in Biomedical Applications

Collagen has been widely used in biomedical applications, mainly to develop structures (cell scaffolds) that allow cell growth and differentiation processes. This biomolecule is also used in cosmetics because it is an essential ingredient of certain makeup and in pharmaceutics for bandages to treat wounds and burns. However, the use of collagen has been limited by the ethical and moral implications of the (typically animal) sources from which it is extracted. Therefore, alternative, more environmentally friendly sources should be found to obtain collagen. Extracting collagen from fishing industry waste (such as scales, bones, and fish skin) has been presented as an advantageous alternative to obtain this biomaterial, which has also shown promising results due to its biocompatibility with human structures (organs and tissues). The characteristics of this molecule and other sources from which it can be obtained should be further studied.