Marine collagen scaffolds in tissue engineering.

Collagen is the primary component of the extracellular matrix in humans. Traditionally commercial collagen is confined to bovine and porcine sources which have concerns of pathogenic transfer. Marine wastage accounts up to 85% by weight in the fishing industry. Extraction of collagen from these wastes for economic value and environmental sustainability is clear. Marine collagens have several advantages such as excellent biocompatibility, lower zoonotic risks, less immunological risk for patients allergic to mammalian products, and less religious restrictions. However, the properties of marine collagen-based constructs are highly dependent on the methods of fabrication. This article reviews advances in the design and fabrication of marine collagen-based constructs for medical applications. The potential applications of marine collagen in the regeneration of skin, bone and cartilage were also highlighted.