Collagen and Its Derivatives in Tissue Engineering

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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