Diversity of Collagen Proteins and Their Biomedical Applications in Drug Delivery

Collagens and collagen-like proteins (CLPs) are the most abundant proteins distributed throughout the kingdom of organisms, including microorganisms, terrestrial animals, and marine animals. Due to their unique texture structure and prominent biocompatibility, collagens have been used as a crucial component of drug delivery systems. Herein, the composition and structure of collagens from different biological species were contrasted at first. Additionally, the biological function of collagen receptors was analyzed and summarized. The review focuses on the research progress of collagen as a biomaterial with excellent properties for delivering different drugs. As our understanding of the structure and function of collagen from different biological sources deepens, more new collagen materials and carriers with outstanding performance will continue to emerge and promote the application of collagen in the field of drug delivery.