Cosmetic Potential of Marine Fish Skin Collagen

Abstract

Many cosmetic formulations have collagen as a major component because of its significant benefits as a natural humectant and moisturizer. This industry is constantly looking for innovative, sustainable, and truly efficacious products, so marine collagen based formulations are arising as promising alternatives. A solid description and characterization of this protein is fundamental to guarantee the highest quality of each batch. In the present study, we present an extensive characterization of marine-derived collagen extracted from salmon and codfish skins, targeting its inclusion as component in cosmetic formulations. Chemical and physical characterizations were performed using several techniques such as sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Fourier Transformation Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy rheology, circular dichroism, X-ray diffraction, humidity uptake, and a biological assessment of the extracts regarding their irritant potential. The results showed an isolation of type I collagen with high purity but with some structural and chemical differences between sources. Collagen demonstrated a good capacity to retain water, thus being suitable for dermal applications as a moisturizer. A topical exposure of collagen in a human reconstructed dermis, as well as the analysis of molecular markers for irritation and inflammation, exhibited no irritant potential. Thus, the isolation of collagen from fish skins for inclusion in dermocosmetic applications may constitute a sustainable and low-cost platform for the biotechnological valorization of fish by-products.

Marine Collagen from Alternative and Sustainable Sources: Extraction, Processing and Applications

“…Collagen derived from fish waste and bioactive peptides derived from collagenous sources have been shown to have several bioactivities with possible cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical applications, as well as biomaterial for tissue engineering [12,58]. Collagen extracted from codfish and salmon skins was characterized to evaluate its inclusion as a component in cosmetic formulations [108]. It demonstrated a good capacity to retain water, which shows promise as a suitable candidate for dermal moisturizing applications.…”

Acid and enzymatic extraction of collagen from Atlantic cod (Gadus Morhua) swim bladders envisaging health-related applications

“…The main part of the fish by-products resulting from the fisheries and food processing industries is still directed for fish silage, fishmeal and oil production, mainly used for animal feed [3,4]. Nevertheless, cod by-products have already been used, for example, for the extraction of collagen [5,6] and fish leather production from skin, the extraction of calcium phosphates such as hydroxyapatite from bones [7], the isolation of enzymes from liver, as well as other valuable compounds from viscera or muscle [4]. In this project, swim bladders were removed from salt-cured cod (Gadus morhua) and used to extract fish protein -collagen.…”

“…Marine collagen from fish, sponges and jellyfish is increasingly used in various biomedical, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals applications [6,16,17]. As examples, collagen was studied to form hydrogels and porous scaffolds for tissue engineering and regeneration purpose [18][19][20][21], as a food supplement but also as an ingredient in cosmetics [5], with potential application by incorporation in formulations for creams and lotions. These strategies foster the establishment of highly profitable processes, which corresponds to a shift to a molecular level of utilization of by-products, where the biomolecules recovered would be applied outside the primary sector, with clear economic, environmental and biotechnological benefits [10].…”

Collagen from Marine Biological Sources and Medical Applications

“…Moisturizers/emollients are complex mixtures of cosmetic ingredients designed to moisturize and soften the skin by increasing skin's hydration and occlusively help hold water in the skin after application. Collagen is one of the major ingredients in many cosmetic formulations including creams and lotions because of its significant benefits as a natural humectant and moisturizer . Unlike low molecular weight humectacts, such as glycine and urea, collagen as a large molecular weight humectant is not absorbed by the skin.…”