Originally extracted from animal tissues, collagen is an all-important protein material widely used in cosmetics, medical devices (aesthetic medicines, bone repair, corneal repair), food, etc. Animal-derived collagen could hardly meet the increasing industrial requirements. Recombinant collagens obtained from various expression systems (e.g., bacteria, yeast, mammalian cells) are of great interest.
Twenty-nine types of collagens have been identified based on amino acid sequences, structures, and functions, which are named types I to XXIX, respectively; types I-III are relatively common collagen types, accounting for about 90% of all collagen in the body.
Type I collagen is commonly used in producing surgical sutures and hemostatic sponges.
Type II collagen is fibrillar and provides the major component of all cartilage.
Type III collagen plays an important role in wound dressings.
Type XVII collagen was shown to effectively protect hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) against follicular atrophy, hair loss and skin thinning, suggesting its potential application in hair regeneration.
In recent years, a number of recombinant collagens (e.g., Type I, Type II, and Type III) have entered the market or are undergoing clinical trials.
Structure Feature of Collagens
Collagen has a unique protein structure and the primary structure comprises a repeating sequence of amino acids (Gly-X-Y), where X is usually Pro, and Y is mostly Hyp or hydroxylysine Hyl. Its secondary structure is defined as the left-sided α-helices of the polypeptide chain. The tertiary structure is a special right-handed triple helix structure consisting of three intertwined α-helical polypeptide chains, which provide the basic morphology of procollagen. The quaternary structure refers to that the collagen is linked head to tail and arranged into bundles in parallel, and the collagen microfibers are organized using covalent linkages. The collagen fibers are formed by aggregating collagen microfibers into bundles.
Applications of Collagens
Collagens as Cosmetics
The recombinant substance can be used in manufacturing beauty and skin care products. Collagen has excellent moisturizing properties, and thus can alleviate problems such as dry skin and wrinkles.
Collagens as Medical Devices
Collagen for Treating Skin Injuries
Recombinant collagen can be used in beauty products because of its skin-enhancing bioactivity. Recombinant collagen promotes skin cell proliferation, collagen synthesis, moisturization, and antioxidant activity, which helps to eliminate scars, reduce wrinkles, and improve skin condition. Recombinant collagen can be used in aesthetic medicines filed through injections, dressings, sprays, etc.
Collagen for Other Tissue Defects
For its biocompatibility, biological activity, and biodegradability, the collagen peptide scaffold is used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Collagen peptide scaffold can be used to promote tissue regeneration and repair, and treat various tissue deficiencies such as cornea, bone, cartilage, dental, cardiovascular, and neural tissues.
Collagens for Drug Delivery
Collagen is a very effective material for drug delivery and sustained release because it binds to a wide range of cytokines, proteins, and drugs. It can regulate the rate and timing of drug release for optimal therapeutic therapy.
Yaohai Bio-Pharma Offers One-Stop CDMO Solution for Recombinant Collagen
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