Collagen Structure, Synthesis, and Its Applications: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Resorbable collagen has been utilized to treat wounds, close graft, and tooth extraction sites, and enhance recovery. Collagen-based membranes are also used as barriers in periodontal and implant therapy to limit epithelial migration and allow cells with the regenerative capacity to fill the problem area. This systematic review was carried out to analyze the studies focusing on collagen structure, synthesis, and its applications. A detailed and extensive search was performed with the help of the keywords "collagen structure", "collagen synthesis" and "collagen applications". There was extensive literature search in reliable and authentic databases like PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, Ovidsp, and Cochrane library to obtain papers focusing on collagen structure, synthesis, and applications. During the systematic review, data were obtained concerning the following parameters. Type of study, nature of aim of the study, size of the sample in the study, gender and age of the subjects included in the study, prevalence of skin diseases where collagen was used for treatment, dose of collagen used, form in which collagen was used, the origin of collagen used, analysis of different variables, structure, and synthesis of collagen. Twenty-two studies were included in this systematic review. The studies discussed the structure, synthesis, and applications of collagen in treatment. In studies focusing on the application of collagen supplements, most of the study subjects were females (68.3%). The study subjects included both healthy and unhealthy subjects. The study subjects were divided into two categories. One category was the intervention group, while another group was the placebo group. Collagen was administered in hydrolysate form (90%) in some studies, bovine form (2.3%), and porcine form (3.4%) in other studies. Collagen supplementation was found to provide better results in both healthy and unhealthy effects in improving the health of skin, cornea, bone, periodontium, face, etc. It can be concluded that collagen is an integral part of the body. The application of collagen supplements can be pretty effective in maintaining the proper health of several important structures of the body like skin, face, cornea, nails, periodontium, etc. Thus, a detailed study of the molecular structure of collagen and genes associated with each type of collagen is essential for further research and treatment of collagen-associated disorders.

Keywords: applications; collagen; structure; synthesis; systematic review.

Figure 1. Representation of selection of articles for systematic review