Collagen is a fibrous protein, naturally present in connective tissue, essential for the structure of skin, bones and tendons. It gives elasticity and firmness to the skin.
In cosmetics, collagen is used for its moisturizing, regenerating and anti-aging properties. It can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin elasticity, and promote cell regeneration.
In medicine, collagen is used in a variety of fields, such as reconstructive surgery, wound care, orthopedics, ophthalmology, and regenerative medicine. It can be used for tissue reconstruction, wound healing, bone regeneration, and other medical applications.
Collagen is a protein naturally produced by the human body that has numerous health and wellness benefits.
The use of collagen in medicine dates back several decades. Here are some historical highlights:
Over the years, progress has been made in purifying and modifying collagen, as well as in understanding its biological properties. These advances have made it possible to improve collagen-based products and to explore new medical applications.
There are various types, of vegetable, animal or synthetic origin, each with specific properties.
Collagen is packaged in sterilized containers before being sold or processed into finished products such as dietary supplements, skin care products, and pharmaceuticals.
Its molecular composition is quite complex, but collagen is mostly made up of three peptide chains that are wound around each other to form a helical structure.
Each individual peptide chain is composed of approximately 1,000 amino acids. The most abundant amino acids in collagen peptide chains are glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. Glycine is present in high amounts and occupies about a third of the total amino acids in collagen. Prolines and hydroxyprolines are important for the structural stability of the collagen helix.
The three individual peptide chains, called alpha chains, are intertwined to form a triple helix. This triple helix structure is often referred to as tropocollagen.
There are several types of collagen, each with a slightly different amino acid sequence and specific properties.