Collagen and collagen-derived materials: synthesis, structure, classification, fundamental properties and biomedical applications
Ahmed N. Emam
Abstract
This review was conducted to provide a comprehensive examination of collagen as a biomaterial, analyzing its fundamental properties, structural characteristics, and extensive applications in biomedical fields. The data was collected to synthesize current knowledge on collagen's synthesis, structure, classification, and therapeutic potential, with the purpose of identifying research gaps and future opportunities in collagen-based biomedical technologies. This comprehensive analysis serves to inform researchers and clinicians about the current state and potential of collagen applications in tissue engineering, wound healing, and regenerative medicine. This review presents a systematic compilation of research data on collagen's molecular structure, hierarchical organization, and biomedical applications. The data encompasses collagen's tropocollagen assembly, fibril and fiber formation, mechanical properties, and tissue-specific distribution patterns. Additionally, the dataset includes comprehensive information on collagen-based biomaterials such as scaffolds, hydrogels, and matrices, along with advanced collagen composites incorporating ceramics, polymers, and growth factors. This data is valuable to researchers as it provides a combined resource for understanding collagen's multifaceted role in biomedical applications, current technological advances, existing challenges in quality control and mechanical optimization, and emerging opportunities for innovation in healthcare and biomedical technologies. The comprehensive nature of this data makes it particularly useful for guiding future research directions and development of next-generation collagen-based therapeutic solutions.