Biomedical and industrial applications of collagen

Collagen is the principal structural protein present in the skin, tendon and bone of the vertebrate body. Ten different vertebrate collagens have been identified, of which the dominant collagen is type I. Interest in collagen as a biomaterial is due to its low immunogenicity and high biocompatibility. Collagen has diverse general and biomedical applications and is also a common constituent of many cosmetic and food products in the form of gelatin. This paper discusses the use of collagen in the fields of medicine and biotechnology, as well as in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry.