💡 Collagen, a protein found in skin and connective tissues, used in biomedical applications is normally derived from the tissue of animals such as cattle, pigs, horses, and sheep. However, disease transmission risks, immune reactions, and cultural and religious concerns have redirected interest from terrestrial mammals towards marine organisms.

📌 Research Highlights:
▶ Controlling the growing conditions of tilapia allows for hazardous-free commercial products, negating cultural and religious concerns. Tilapia skin provided for 28-40% dry weight yield of acid-soluble collagen.
▶ This study compared the physical, chemical, and biological properties of a fibrillar type I collagen from an aquaponics-derived tilapia skin with a commercially-grown tilapia of the same species and tissue.
▶ Evidence suggests that type I collagen from the aquaponics-raised tilapia skin could be a suitable high-controlled alternative biomaterial for applications in healthcare and other industries.

🎯 Although the conclusions of the study suggest tilapia skin could be a healthy alternative to mammal-derived collagen, there are as of now no studies on the cost-effectiveness of such using the fish species as a source. More research and funding is needed to further explore this potential alternative.

📷 Image: Collagen is normally derived from cattle, sheep, pigs, and other certain mammals. However, cultural and health concerns have shifted attention to tilapia grown inside aquaponic systems for its lower threat of of transmissible diseases, freedom from religious concerns, and economic value derived from its waste and byproducts.

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FAQs

Q1: Is tilapia skin collagen as effective as collagen from traditional sources?

Yes, tilapia skin collagen exhibits comparable effectiveness to collagen from traditional sources, with the added advantage of being a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option.

Q2: How does tilapia skin collagen benefit the aquaponic industry?

Tilapia skin collagen extraction provides an additional revenue stream for the aquaponic industry, making use of a byproduct that would otherwise be discarded.

Q3: Are there any ethical concerns related to tilapia skin collagen extraction?

Ethical concerns are minimal as the tilapia skin collagen extraction process typically utilizes byproducts from the fish processing industry, minimizing the need for additional fishing.