Extraction and characterization of type I collagen from scales of Mexican Biajaiba fish

Abstract Type I collagen is a high-value polymer found naturally in animal species and with many applications in the biomedical field. Collagen is frequently obtained from bovine tendons, but this source presents the risk of disease transmission, thus marine collagen is becoming an alternative source of this valuable material. In the present work, we report the successful extraction and characterization of the natural collagen found in the scales of Biajaiba, a highly consumed fish native to the Gulf of Mexico. We obtained acid- and pepsin-soluble type I collagens with high denaturation temperatures, high hydroxyproline contents, and yields in the ranges reported for other fish scales. Our work proposes a useful alternative for transforming the huge quantities of discarded fish scales in our country to extract a high-value product for biomedical applications.