How Significant Are Marine Invertebrate Collagens? Exploring Trends in Research and Innovation

Abstract

This review is focused on the research, innovation and technological breakthroughs on marine invertebrate collagens and their applications. The findings reveal that research dates back to the 1970s, and after a period of reduced activity, interest in collagens from several marine invertebrate groups was renewed around 2008, likely driven by the increased commercial interest in these biomolecules of marine origin. Research and development are predominantly reported from China and Japan, highlighting significant research interest in cnidarians (jellyfish), echinoderms (sea cucumbers, sea urchins and starfish), molluscs (squid and cuttlefish) and sponges. Co-word analysis of the literature highlights applications in regenerative medicine, the properties of hydrolysates, and biology and biochemistry studies. Innovation and the technological landscape, however, focus on fewer taxonomic groups, possibly reflecting the challenge of sustainably sourcing raw materials, with a higher number of patents coming from Asia. Globally, jellyfish collagen is the most prominent marine invertebrate source, while Asia also emphasizes the use of collagens derived from molluscs and sea cucumbers. Europe, despite fewer patents, explores a broader range of taxonomic groups. Globally, key applications registered are mostly in medical, dental and toiletry areas, with peptide preparations spanning multiple animal groups. The food domain is notably relevant for molluscs and sea cucumbers. Market trends show a strong presence of cosmetic and supplement products, aligning with market reports that predict a growing demand for marine collagens in cosmetics and personalized nutrition, particularly in targeted health supplements.

Keywords: application; biomaterials; blue biotechnology; jellyfish; molluscs; patents; sea cucumber; sponges.

Figure 1

Schematic representation of a phylogenetic tree showing relationships of selected phyla analysed in the present study.

Figure 2

Representative marine invertebrate animals (genus or species level) from the phylum studied. Porifera ((A): Ircinia; (B): Chondrosia reniformis). Cnidaria ((C): jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo; (F): coral Sarcophyton). Mollusca: ((D): squid Loligo; (E): cuttlefish Sepia). Echinodermata: (G): sea-cucumber Stichopus; (H): starfish Asterias amurensis; (I): sea-urchin Paracentrotus lividus. Images sourced from iNaturalist contributors under CC BY 4.0. Modifications include cropping and resizing. For license details, see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (accessed on 27 November 2024).

Figure 3

Geographical distribution of scientific publications addressing collagens in marine invertebrates.

Figure 4

Distribution of scientific publications by year and taxonomic group addressing collagens in marine invertebrates.

Figure 5

Bibliometric network visualization of the keywords associated to the scientific publications related to marine invertebrate collagen, generated using VOSviewer. Each node represents a keyword, with node size indicating the frequency of occurrence in the analysed literature. The colours correspond to clusters of closely related keywords, highlighting main areas of research. For example, “jellyfish collagen” is clustered with keywords such as “regenerative medicine” and “biomaterials”, reflecting its relevance in these fields, while “sea cucumber” is associated with “structure” and “physicochemical properties” reflecting its connection with these more fundamental studies. The edges (connecting lines) indicate co-occurrences of keywords, with the thickness of the edges representing the strength of the association.

Figure 6

Distribution of patent publications addressing collagens by taxonomic group of marine invertebrates (A) and jurisdiction (B).

Figure 7

Distribution of patent publications addressing the uses of collagens by technological areas.

Figure 8

(A) Patents applicants by type of entity; (B) legal status of patents addressing collagens by taxonomic group of marine invertebrates (for simplification, please note that taxonomic groups are either phyla, in case of sponges and molluscs, or families within a phylum, in case of jellyfish, starfish and sea cucumbers).

Figure 9

Databases and sources used for the scientific literature review, patent analysis, and market analysis to assess the significance of collagens from marine invertebrates in research, innovation, and market applications.