Recent Advances on Collagen Biomaterial: From Extraction, Cross-Linking to Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

Collagen has shown promising potential in biomedical fields due to its high biocompatibility, abundance of resources, ease of flexible modification, and potential for active targeting. The biomedical capacity is largely influenced by their unique structure and properties. Collagen is typically extracted from tissues and organs that are commonly discarded as waste. The extraction of collagen from agricultural and sideline resources is an environmentally friendly method for utilizing byproducts and generating high-value products. The extraction methods can significantly impact the structure and composition. Collagens can be cross-linked using external reagents or techniques to enhance their strength and meet growing demands. This review will discuss the recent advancements in collagen-based biomaterials for chronic wound healing, bone regeneration, and cornea defect repair, focusing on extraction and modification strategies. We are dedicated to bridging the gap between the pretreatment of collagens in various processes and their specific applications. This will facilitate the scientific design and optimal utilization of collagen-based biomaterials for tissue regeneration. This review provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of the advancements in extraction methods, cross-linking strategies, and the biomedical applications of collagen.

Keywords:

• Collagen
• extraction
• cross-linking
• tissue regeneration

Authors’ contributions

Prof Hai-Bo Wang, Prof. Ben-Mei Wei and Dr. Lian Zhu author are expected to have made substantial contributions to the conception, Ze-Long Yu, Dr. Sheng Li, Prof. Cheng-Zhi Xu participates in the acquisition, analysis; Dr Lian Zhu have drafted the manuscript, and Dr. Yuan-Jing Hou, Prof. Li-Xia Liao, Prof. Yu-Ling Xu and Prof. Jun-Tao Zhang assisted the revision of the manuscript. Prof. Wei Wen provide some constructive suggestions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All the data and materials are available according to the request.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by Open Project Funding of Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Synthesis and Application of Organic Functional Molecules (No. KLSAOFM2314), Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, PR China, National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 22178277).