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Collagen and Its Derivatives in Tissue Engineering

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 2590

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
Interests: biomolecular materials; tissue engineering; material science; in vitro and in vivo biodegradation; medical device development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will be dedicated to exploring the diverse scientific and practical applications of collagen derivatives, a promising class of biomolecular materials. As a popular naturally occurring material, it has numerous derivatives. Among them, biodegradable, and often biocompatible, substances and collagen-based materials are extremely interesting from a material science viewpoint. These derivatives also play a crucial role in both in vitro and in vivo biomedical applications. Their versatility allows for their integration into various regenerative strategies, including tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, wound healing matrices, and implantable scaffolds.

This Special Issue will focus on collagen derivatives alone or in composite form, as well as comparisons with other natural or synthetic polymers such as starch, hyaluronic acid, poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA), poly-ethylene glycol (PEG), and poly-lactic acid (PLA). An emphasis will be placed on applications involving functional tissue restoration—in bone, cartilage, muscle, tendons, or skin—or artificial constructs, utilizing collagen-derived materials in grafts, implants, or drug carriers.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • In vitro experiments involving collagen derivatives, such as sustained or controlled release, toxicity assessments, and cellular interactions;
  • In vivo investigations using animal models to evaluate regenerative efficacy, inflammation modulation, or biodegradation;
  • Theoretical modeling of material degradation, nanoscale structure–function relationships, or the integration of collagen into 3D-printed systems;
  • Industrial perspectives on collagen derivatives, including manufacturing, regulatory aspects, quality control, and clinical translation.

Submissions of original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and methodological studies centered on collagen derivatives are encouraged.

Dr. István Hornyák
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • collagen derivatives
  • tissue engineering
  • in vitro experiments
  • in vivo investigations
  • material degradation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 2895 KB  
Article
Gelatin Sponge-Embedded Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells Enable Allogeneic Application for Revascularization of Ischemic Wounds
by Manon Locatelli, Wolf-Henning Boehncke, Damien Pastor, Jean Villard, Nicolo-Constantino Brembilla and Olivier Preynat-Seauve
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(8), 3482; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27083482 - 13 Apr 2026
Viewed by 533
Abstract
Chronic wounds are ulcers unable to heal due to vascular insufficiency, diabetes, or obesity. Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) are promising candidates for regenerative therapies owing to their pro-healing and angiogenic properties. Compared with autologous approaches, allogeneic ASC therapies offer the opportunity for off-the-shelf [...] Read more.
Chronic wounds are ulcers unable to heal due to vascular insufficiency, diabetes, or obesity. Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) are promising candidates for regenerative therapies owing to their pro-healing and angiogenic properties. Compared with autologous approaches, allogeneic ASC therapies offer the opportunity for off-the-shelf use, enabling immediate availability, standardized qualification, and consistent potency. Gelatin sponges have been shown to reprogram ASCs toward a highly angiogenic phenotype. However, because this activation also modulates some immune-related genes, including MHC, its impact on immunogenicity is unknown and could be critical for allogeneic applications. This study evaluated whether ASCs embedded in a gelatin sponge could be used in an allogeneic setting for ischemic wound repair. To mimic clinical allogeneic conditions, a controlled MHC mismatch was introduced in a rat ischemic wound model: donor ASCs carrying RT1^n or RT1^l haplotypes were implanted into outbred RT1^a recipients. Embedding ASCs within the gelatin sponge upregulated MHC class I but not class II expression, without inducing systemic or local alloreactivity. Serum acute-phase proteins remained unchanged, and no CD3+ T-cell infiltration was detected. Histology confirmed efficacy on ischemic wounds, with increased granulation tissue thickness, red blood cell infiltration, and enhanced vessel density versus controls. Allogeneic ASCs activated by a gelatin scaffold promote wound revascularization without eliciting immune rejection, supporting their development as standardized, off-the-shelf therapies for chronic ischemic wounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Collagen and Its Derivatives in Tissue Engineering)
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19 pages, 4758 KB  
Article
Optimization of Gelatin-Based Scaffolds for Soft Tissue Regeneration: In Vitro and In Vivo Performance
by Zita Szűcs-Takács, Viktória Varga, Fanni Bán, Viktória Harcsa, Balázs Pinke, Róbert Várdai, Fatime Gajnut, Enikő Major and István Hornyák
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(18), 9106; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26189106 - 18 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1455
Abstract
In this study, promising compositions of cross-linked gelatin-based scaffolds were tested in vitro and in vivo. Our aim was to utilize a solid matrix that is suitable for medical applications, and to be regulated as a medical device as a soft tissue implant. [...] Read more.
In this study, promising compositions of cross-linked gelatin-based scaffolds were tested in vitro and in vivo. Our aim was to utilize a solid matrix that is suitable for medical applications, and to be regulated as a medical device as a soft tissue implant. Three different cross-linkers were used in vitro, and the optimal composition was chosen for in vivo testing. The surfaces of the scaffolds were observed with SEM, and, in the case of divinyl sulfone (DVS), small cracks appeared, and the structure was rigid. With the use of poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE), the surface was found to be uneven, but generally, the appearance was similar in each case. The optimal scaffold contained 5 v/v % 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE), and was implanted for either one month or three months in the back of BL6 mice. The explants were assessed using analytical techniques, including microscopic imaging and histological analysis, and it was found that cells, connective tissue, and extracellular matrix (ECM) were all able to successfully infiltrate the scaffolds and did not induce any inflammation. In summary, these novel implants seem to promote blood vessel formation and support the adherence of adipose tissue, as confirmed by optical microscopy and histological evaluations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Collagen and Its Derivatives in Tissue Engineering)
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