Caprine (goat) collagen: a potential biomaterial for skin tissue engineering.

Collagens presently used in tissue engineering are primarily of bovine or porcine origin. However, a risk of a spongiform encephalopathy epidemic has limited the use of collagen from these sources. Keeping the aforementioned perspective in mind, we explored the possibility of using domestic goat available in the subcontinent as a potential source of collagen for tissue-engineering application. This article delineates the isolation, physico-chemical characterization, biocompatibility study and wound healing application of acid soluble caprine (goat) tendon collagen (GTC). Physico-chemical characterization of 1% acetic acid extracted GTC was done by SDS-PAGE, amino-acid composition analysis, FT-IR and CD spectroscopy. Results revealed that GTC was comprised of type-I collagen. Biocompatibility study showed that GTC augmented cell adhesion, cell cycle progression and proliferation. Immuno-cytochemical analysis in conjugation with traction force microscopy further confirmed a superior focal adhesion complex mediated cell-substrate interaction in GTC. Finally, in vivo study in mice model revealed that GTC has low immunogenicity and it augments healing process significantly. Throughout the study, calf skin collagen (CSC) was used as standard for comparative evaluation. In conclusion, it can be said that GTC may find its application as biomaterial in skin tissue engineering.