Collagen-Based Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering Applications

Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the human body and provides a natural framework for cell attachment and proliferation. In tissue engineering, collagen-based materials serve as scaffolds that emulate the extracellular matrix, offering mechanical support and instructive biochemical cues. Various sources of collagen, including mammalian tissues, marine organisms and recombinant systems, have been investigated to address issues of immunogenicity and pathogen transmission. Advanced processing techniques such as decellularisation, electrospinning and 3D bioprinting enable the fabrication of scaffolds with controlled porosity, mechanical strength and degradation profiles. Chemical and physical crosslinking strategies are applied to modulate scaffold stability, while incorporation of growth factors and other biomolecules enhances cell differentiation and tissue integration. Applications span a wide spectrum of regenerative medicine, encompassing bone, cartilage, skin, vascular and neural repair. Recent progress in hybrid composites, combining collagen with synthetic polymers or inorganic phases, has further expanded the functional capabilities of these materials. Despite these advances, challenges remain in achieving reproducible mechanical properties, long-term stability and scalable manufacturing. Continued interdisciplinary research is poised to translate collagen-based biomaterials from laboratory prototypes to clinical solutions with global impact.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have uncovered collagen I and III as primary constituents of a unique ancient marine biopolymer, shedding light on evolutionary adaptations in collagen chemistry. High-resolution spectroscopic and proteomic analyses demonstrated that halogenated crosslinks in this biocomposite resemble modern collagen networks, offering new molecular insights into crosslink formation and stability. Computational modelling of collagen-mimetic peptides clarified how specific di- and tri-tyrosine bonds modulate fibril mechanics and resistance to enzymatic degradation. These findings extend our fundamental understanding of collagen structure–function relationships and suggest novel design principles for next-generation tissue scaffolds with enhanced mechanical robustness and tailored degradation kinetics.

Collagen-Based Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in collagen-based biomaterials in tissue engineering applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Extracellular matrix (ECM): A network of proteins and polysaccharides that provides structural and biochemical support to cells.

Crosslinking: The formation of covalent bonds between polymer chains to enhance mechanical strength and resistance to degradation.

Decellularisation: The removal of cellular components from a tissue to preserve its native matrix structure for scaffold use.

Hydrogel: A hydrated polymer network capable of retaining large amounts of water, mimicking soft tissue properties.

Integrin-mediated adhesion: Cell binding to specific peptide motifs in the extracellular matrix via transmembrane receptor proteins.

Biocompatibility: The capacity of a material to interact with living tissue without eliciting an adverse response.

References

1. Discovery of mammalian collagens I and III within ancient poriferan biopolymer spongin. Nature Communications (2025).
2. Swim bladder-derived biomaterials: structures, compositions, properties, modifications, and biomedical applications. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2024).
3. Application of Collagen Scaffold in Tissue Engineering: Recent Advances and New Perspectives. Polymers (2016).
4. Collagen-Based Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering Applications. Materials (2010).
5. Processing of collagen based biomaterials and the resulting materials properties. BioMedical Engineering OnLine (2019).
6. Marine Origin Collagens and Its Potential Applications. Marine Drugs (2014).
7. Control of crosslinking for tailoring collagen-based scaffolds stability and mechanics. Acta Biomaterialia (2015).
8. Fish Collagen: Extraction, Characterization, and Applications for Biomaterials Engineering. Polymers (2020).