Development of Biocompatible Scaffolds of Collagen Fibers from Tilapia Scales (Oreochromis niloticus) Modified with PVA

Abstract

Collagen is a biomaterial whose properties are influenced by its origin. The objective of this study is to extract, purify, and characterize collagen from fish residues (tilapia scales) and fabricate and characterize collagen-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibrous membranes using the electrospinning technique. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate–Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) were used to characterize the collagen and the membranes. The results showed that tilapia scales are an important source of natural collagen and recorded a final yield of 2.5% wt. In addition, the membranes showed excellent properties that make them suitable for use as scaffolds for various applications using a 50:50 wt. solution of collagen and PVA. The biological evaluation of electrospun scaffolds was done by a culture of Human Foreskin Fibroblasts (HFF-1) cells as an in vitro model, and alamarBlue™ assays were conducted to determine the growth and cytotoxicity. The results indicate that this biomaterial has promoted cell proliferation, and the scaffolds exhibited a favorable behavior for cell growth over time in laboratory tests. Therefore, collagen extracted from tilapia scales can be potentially applied in several applications related to tissue engineering, such as graft substitutes, cartilage repair, among others.

Graphical Abstract