Scientists from Lobachevsky University (Nizhny Novgorod State University, NNSU) have developed novel biologically active dressings based on cod collagen, designed to accelerate wound healing and prevent infection. Their findings have been published in the journal Polymers.
Image: The development by NNSU scientists.
The creation of effective wound-healing materials is a crucial area of research, as the incidence and variety of wounds from surgeries, accidents, and burns remain consistently high, according to researchers at NNSU. The university emphasized that a major trend in regenerative medicine involves utilizing natural, biocompatible polymers.
University experts have devised a method to produce wound-healing coverings—such as films, sponges, and scaffolds—from cod processing waste. The distinct advantage of these materials is their inherent ability to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria without requiring further treatment, researchers noted.
“There are no similar domestic materials available on the market, and their application is particularly promising in non-sterile environments. Furthermore, our development surpasses commercial counterparts in effectiveness,” stated Lyudmila Semenycheva, head of the research team and manager of the Petrochemistry Research Laboratory at NNSU`s Research Institute of Chemistry.
According to the researchers, collagen from commercial fish was chosen due to its high similarity to human collagen, ensuring excellent biocompatibility. Additionally, it represents a continuously renewable, cost-effective, and safe resource, posing no risk of disease transmission from animals to humans.
“Collagen is the most abundant protein and an excellent foundation for regenerative materials. However, to achieve the desired effect, its natural structure must be modified into a robust three-dimensional matrix. We have successfully accomplished this,” Semenycheva explained.
The proposed methodology involves modifying cod collagen using radical chemistry techniques, which employ highly reactive particles (radicals) to alter substances. This process allows for the incorporation of biocompatible natural and synthetic components into its structure, thereby forming a strong three-dimensional matrix vital for tissue regeneration.
The efficacy of these new dressings has already been confirmed, the study`s authors reported. Biocompatibility was verified at the Biotechnology Laboratory of Privolzhsky Research Medical University (PRMU). Furthermore, wound-healing tests conducted at NNSU`s Institute of Biology and Biomedicine demonstrated significantly higher effectiveness compared to commercial bovine collagen-based materials.
Currently, the development is progressing to a pilot project phase, which will involve a full cycle of preclinical trials, aiming for subsequent integration into medical practice.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth