Resumen:
The skin of Nile tilapia is an abundant source of type I collagen, structurally similar to human skin, making it a promising material for the development of bio-based dressings. This study aimed to formulate a hydrogel from collagen extracted from tilapia skin, structured with konjac gum, which acts as a gelling, anti-inflammatory, and woundhealing agent. Initially, technological and patent prospecting was carried out, including the analysis of 25 patents and 12 scientific articles related to the use of konjac gum in hydrogels for wound dressings. In parallel, a literature review on the application of Nile tilapia skin collagen as a biomaterial resulted in the selection of 16 articles. This preliminary research provided theoretical support for the development of a novel biodressing composed of a collagen/konjac gum biogel combined with a commercial sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na) gel. Among the tested formulations, sample CMC3 showed the most promising results. In the in vitro spreadability test, it reached a maximum area of 1084.3 mm², significantly higher than the control samples. Instrumental texture analysis revealed low adhesiveness (2.63 N/m) and good hardness (150 N), desirable characteristics for wound applications. In the rheological test, the sample exhibited pseudoplastic behavior, characterized by lower viscosity, which favors spreadability and coverage of large surfaces while ensuring that the gel remains at the wound site. Furthermore, sample CMC3 showed greater stability under variations in pH, spreadability, and adhesiveness after stress conditions. High thixotropy was also observed, indicating adequate flow and good structural recovery after shear force reduction, an essential property for storage and packaging. The results demonstrate the potential of tilapia collagen gel crosslinked with konjac gum as an adjuvant in commercial dressings, enhancing their physicochemical properties and potentially broadening their therapeutic applications.
