Novel applications of collagen in tissue engineering and wound healing: New horizons

Collagen fibrils and their networks (three-dimensional architecture) can modulate and define most tissues such as the cornea, skin, cartilage, bone, ligament, and tendon. Animal sources of this protein, specifically bovine and porcine collagen are abundant and inexpensive with low risk of immune reaction. For increasing the biocompatibility, recombinant human collagen may be considered as an alternative option. For designing appropriate cell scaffolds, the regeneration of neo-tissues impact on collagen-based extracellular matrix (ECM). Gelatin, one of the main products in food and industry is obtained from thermal hydrolysis of collagen, irreversibly. The combination of collagen with other therapeutic agents such as phenolic acid exhibited increased enzymatic stability, swelling rate, and antibacterial activity of the scaffolds. In this mini-review, advances and challenges of bone tissue regeneration, corneal repair, dental applications, heart tissue repair, neuron regeneration, urethral tissue regeneration, and wound healing based on collagen have been discussed according to recent studies.