Avaliação do potencial inflamatório e regenerativo das placas esponjosas de colágeno tipo I liofilizado extraído de pele de tilápia (Oreochromis Niloticus) em ratos wistar (Rattus Norvegicus)

Abstract

This study evaluated the inflammatory and regenerative potential of lyophilized Type I collagen sponge, extracted from tilapia skin, in Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus). Collagen, an essential structural protein in connective tissue, constitutes about 30% of the total proteins in an organism and is widely used in biomaterials for wound treatment due to its regenerative properties. Lyophilized collagen from tilapia skin stands out as a promising biomaterial for clinical use, owing to its favorable physicochemical properties and the abundance of the raw material. However, its biocompatibility must be assessed in animal models to ensure safety in human or veterinary medicine applications. To this end, male Wistar rats were utilized and divided into groups: a negative control group, a positive control group (treated with Duragen®, a commercial collagen membrane), and two experimental groups with lyophilized tilapia skin collagen, extracted via two distinct protocols. The tilapia collagen sheets (1.5 cm x 1.5 cm) were lyophilized, radio-sterilized, and implanted into the dorsal subcutaneous region of the animals. Macroscopic and histological evaluations of the surgical intervention area were conducted at various time intervals to analyze fibrous capsule formation, the type and intensity of the inflammatory process, the presence of macrophages and giant cells, and the occurrence of neovascularization and tissue necrosis. The results demonstrated that the lyophilized tilápia collagen was well absorbed by the recipient tissue, without causing excessive acute or chronic inflammatory responses, and it stimulated significant angiogenesis in the subcutaneous space. These findings highlight lyophilized tilapia collagen as a promising biomaterial for wound treatment, suggesting potential for new regenerative therapies using natural and economically accessible biomaterials, thereby contributing to advancements in Translational Medicine.