Collagen from Marine Sources for Potential Application in Wound Treatment

Collagen is a biocompatible, biodegradable, and low-immunogenic protein, making it an ideal candidate for regenerative medicine. Due to ethical/religious concerns and the risk of disease transmission from traditional terrestrial mammal sources (bovine/porcine), scientific interest has increasingly shifted toward the vast marine ecosystem as a sustainable and alternative source. This chapter explores the primary applications of marine-derived collagen in wound healing, detailing its unique biochemical and structural characteristics compared to terrestrial collagen. Collagen, a fibrous protein of the extracellular matrix (ECM), is defined by its triple-helix structure, stabilized by hydroxyproline. Marine collagen shows significant diversity between vertebrates (fish) and invertebrates (Porifera, Cnidaria, Mollusca, Annelida, Echinodermata). For instance, fish collagen, though abundant from fishing industry waste, often has lower thermal stability due to a reduced imino acid content. However, specific invertebrate collagens, such as those from sponges (Chondrosia reniformis) or mollusk byssal threads, exhibit unique mechanical properties and surprising thermal resistance. The chapter comprehensively reviews the latest innovative applications using marine collagen (from fish, jellyfish, sponges, and mollusks) or gelatin in scaffolds, films, and bioactive peptides to promote skin regeneration and wound repair. This highlights the vast, unexplored potential of marine biodiversity for developing more efficient and sustainable biomaterials.