The Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IIT-H) researchers have derived collagen from waste eel skin and shown that tissue scaffolds built using such collagen allow growth and proliferation of stem cells. The practical applications of this research can lead to utilisation of eel fish skin-derived collagen as a promising alternative to animal-derived collagen, which is expensive and associated with pathological diseases.

 

The researchers believe that sustainable utilisation of discarded eel skin-derived collagen for biomedical application would boost Indian ‘blue’ bio-economic growth and help in the development of an alternate industry that converts waste into useful products.

 

The research, funded by Department of Science and Technology-Science and Engineering Research Board (DST-SERB), Government of India, through the National Post-Doctoral Fellowship Scheme (N-PDF) was led by Dr Mano Govindharaj, Young Scientist Fellow, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Laboratory; Dr Subha Narayan Rath, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and research scholar Uday Kiran Roopavath.

 

The team’s research was published recently in the reputed peer-reviewed Journal of Cleaner Production.

Source: Hindustan Times

IIT-H researchers have successfully derived collagen from discarded eel skin, a promising alternative to animal-derived collagen.