Green Extraction and Characterization of Collagen from Different Fish Scales and Cell Culture-Based Bioactive Evaluation of Its Combinations with Zingiber officinale

Fish scales, often discarded as waste, hold a hidden treasure: collagen that could revolutionize biomedicine—now extracted using an eco-friendly, sugar-based solvent.

Imagine turning fish waste into a biomedical goldmine. Researchers have done just that by pulling collagen from the scales of red mullet, gilthead sea bream, and European sea bass—using a green solvent made from citric acid, xylitol, and water. This natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) is a game-changer, replacing harsh chemicals with a sustainable, gentle approach.

The extracted collagen was put through a battery of tests—SDS-PAGE, FTIR, SEM, and XRD. These analyses confirmed it's Type I collagen, with its signature triple-helix structure intact. The molecular architecture survived the extraction, meaning the collagen is ready for action.

Next, the researchers blended this collagen with ginger extract at various ratios. The results were striking: more ginger meant more antioxidant power, and the blends also fought off E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with a stronger punch against the Gram-positive bug. Human skin cells (HDFa) thrived on these combinations, showing high viability and no signs of damage or cell death.

This sustainable collagen isn't just a pretty scaffold—it's a potential carrier for plant-based bioactives, paving the way for eco-friendly materials in medicine and tissue engineering. The future of biomaterials might just start at the fish market.

Key Points

• Green NADES extracts collagen from fish scales.
• Type I collagen structure preserved; bioactive blends with ginger.
• Ginger boosts antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, safe for skin cells.