Fish scales as a biocomposite of collagen and calcium salts

Collagen for biomedical applications is mainly isolated from animal tissues (bovine or porcine skin and bovine or equine Achilles tendons). Type I collagen has been also extracted from skin, bone, fins and scales of fresh water and marine fishes. Fish scales are composed of collagen covered with calcium salts. In the present study we report the preparation of collagen from fish scales for potential cosmetic, pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. In our laboratory collagen was isolated from scales of Esox lucius. It was the first time that this species were used as sources of collagen. Extraction of collagen from fish scales was done in two steps. In the first step, fish scales were demineralized using EDTA. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis of demineralized scale was carried out for quantitative estimation of inorganic content. Then, demineralized fish scales were dissolved in acetic acid. Collagen isolated from Esox Lucius may serve as an attractive and safe source of collagen for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Fish collagen can be processed in sheet, sponge's foams, injectable viscous solution, and dispersions.