In this study, we aimed to obtain gelatin from the marine snail Rapana venosa using acidic and enzymatic extraction methods and to characterize these natural products for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. Marine gelatins presented protein values and hydroxyproline content similar to those of commercial mammalian gelatin, but with higher melting temperatures. Their electrophoretic profile and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra revealed protein and absorption bands situated in the amide region, specific for gelatin molecule. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed significant differences in the structure of the lyophilized samples, depending on the type of gelatin. In vitro studies performed on human keratinocytes showed no cytotoxic effect of acid-extracted gelatin at all tested concentrations and moderate cytotoxicity of enzymatic extracted gelatin at concentrations higher than 0.5 mg/mL. Also, both marine gelatins favored keratinocyte cell adhesion. No irritant potential was recorded as the level of IL-1α and IL-6 proinflammatory cytokines released by HaCaT cells cultivated in the presence of marine gelatins was significantly reduced. Together, these data suggest that marine snails are an alternative source of gelatins with potential use in pharmaceutical and skincare products.

Acid‐soluble, undenatured, type I collagen (BSC) isolated, for the first time, from gilthead bream skin and the novel fabricated 3D porous wound dressing were analyzed for physicochemical and biological properties, in order to offer a safe alternative to commercial bovine collagen (BC) products. SDS‐polyacrylamide analysis confirmed the purity of BSC preparation. The hydroxyproline content and temperature of denaturation of BSC were lower than those of BC, in accordance with the structural data recorded by FT‐IR spectroscopy. However, certain concentrations of BSC stimulated the cell metabolism of L929 fibroblasts in a higher proportion than BC. The 3D wound dressing presented high porosity and low surface hydrophobicity that could help cell attachment and growth. The rapid biodegradation of BSC wound dressing could explain the improved in vitro cell migration and wound closure rate. In conclusion, the skin of gilthead bream from the Black Sea coast represented a valuable source for the biomedical industry, providing biocompatible, biodegradable collagen and 3D porous wound dressing, as novel material with enhanced wound healing activity.

Fish bones mainly contain type I collagen and hydroxyapatite, and despite of their potential for applications in biotechnology and biomedicine, they represent one of the major source of waste generated by fish processing industry. The present study was focused on the interaction of bioactive peptides extracted from silver carp (H. molitrix) bones with human keratinocytes in culture. The potential of fish bone bioactive peptides to influence cell viability, proliferation and migration was evaluated in different experimental models in vitro. The results demonstrated a high efficiency and bioactivity of the enzymatically extracted fish bone peptides in several processes involved in cutaneous wound healing, in particular stimulation of keratinocytes metabolism and migration. In conclusion, they present a huge potential for applications in skin tissue engineering, but also in the biomedical and cosmetic fields.

The association of natural or synthetic polymers with metal nanoparticles resulted in hybrid [...]