Exploring Atelocollagen: Collagen's Role in Medicine, Cosmetics, and Research
Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in the human body, serving as the main structural component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in connective tissues such as ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and skin. Its triple-helix formation gives collagen the strength to resist tensile forces, while its ability to bind various macromolecules helps create the ECM network.
Collagen naturally assembles in different configurations—from networks to fibrils—each playing a vital role in maintaining tissue structure and influencing cellular behaviour. Collagen is continuously produced and replaced to repair tissue damage from wear and tear, injury, or disease. However, as we age, our body’s collagen production slows. To counteract this, highly purified collagen can be extracted from animal tissues and used in medical applications to supplement or replace the body’s natural collagen.
What is Atelocollagen?
Atelocollagen is a purified form of collagen derived from animal dermal tissue. Its telopeptides, regions at the ends of collagen molecules, are known to trigger immune responses and are removed to make the collagen more biocompatible for medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications.
How is Atelocollagen Extracted?
The process of extracting atelocollagen involves several key steps:
- Sourcing: Atelocollagen is typically sourced from bovine, porcine, or fish skin and tendons, which are rich in type I collagen.
- Solubilisation: The collagen is solubilised through enzymatic digestion or acidic treatment (e.g., with acetic acid) to break down connective tissue, allowing the extraction of soluble collagen.
- Telopeptide Removal: Enzymes such as pepsin selectively remove telopeptides without affecting collagen's central triple-helix structure. This ensures the collagen retains its mechanical strength and biological integrity.
- Purification: After enzymatic treatment, the collagen is purified through centrifugation, filtration, and dialysis to remove residual enzymes and impurities.
- Sterilisation: The solution is sterilised to ensure its safety for medical and cosmetic use.
- Final Processing: The purified atelocollagen can be concentrated in different forms, such as liquid, gel, or powder. These forms can be used for a variety of applications, including injectable gels for cosmetic procedures, scaffolds for tissue engineering, wound dressings, or even freeze-dried powders for convenient storage.
Collagen Applications
Research Applications
Collagen is widely used in research for creating cell culture gels, tissue engineering scaffolds, and assays studying cellular behaviour and interaction with the ECM. Examples include:
- In vitro assays
- Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
- In vivo studies
- 3D matrices and bioprinting
Cosmeceuticals & Nutraceuticals
Collagen and collagen peptides are key ingredients in high-end skincare products and supplements aimed at promoting skin and joint health. Examples include:
- Cosmeceuticals and specialty skincare products
- Nutraceuticals and nutricosmetics
Medical Applications
Collagen is used in various clinical settings for wound care, skin regeneration, and as scaffolds for surgical, dental, and orthopaedic implants. Examples include:
- Wound care (dressings, wound healing gels, haemostatic agents)
- Dermatological treatments and skin regeneration
- Dental, orthopaedic, and surgical implants, membranes, and grafts
Promed Bioscience Collagen Products
Promed Bioscience produces collagen products sourced from porcine tendons through a multi-step process involving chemical soaking, enzymatic extraction, filtration, and dialysis. Their proprietary extraction methods yield high-quality type I atelocollagen and telocollagen, which retain the protein’s natural triple-helical structure and fibrillar form, preserving the mechanical properties (such as strength and elasticity) of native collagen.
Their enzyme treatment and advanced purification techniques ensure that the collagen is highly purified, and free from degradation byproducts and impurities. Promed’s collagen products are available in lyophilised and ready-to-use solutions, offering long shelf life and versatility for various applications.
Promed Bioscience’s atelocollagen products are known for their excellent biocompatibility, low antigenicity, and biodegradability. They can also be custom formulated to meet customer specifications.
Shop Promed Bioscience collagen products on MyBio
About Promed Bioscience
Promed Bioscience is an innovative EU-based biotech company specialising in the development of collagen-based biomaterials, such as highly purified medical-grade atelocollagen. Their products serve a wide range of research, clinical, and cosmeceutical applications. Promed Bioscience is committed to advancing science-based solutions to meet the growing demand for collagen, especially as scientific discoveries continue to highlight collagen’s role in health, disease, and the challenges posed by an aging population.