Obtaining and characterization of collagen for biomaterials by alkalase enzyme from different kinds of fish scals

The word collagen is derived from a Greek word "cola" meaning to produce gum and "gene". Collagen is a protein that has attracted much interest due to its valuable properties in the last period. It has unusual applications in many industries. Especially the food and cosmetics industry are leading the way. For this reason, studies in the field of collagen production and applications have accelerated. In this study, the production of hydrolysed collagen using alkalase enzyme from fish scales of graniose (Argyrosomus regius), sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and sea bream (Sparus aurata) and their use as potential biomaterial were investigated. In the study, collagen extraction was performed at pH 10 (pH adjusted with NaOH) and at 45ºC for 5 hours by changing the enzyme ratio (0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%) and the collagen yields were determined, and their characterization were performed. While the lowest yield was obtained at 0.1% enzyme ratio in all species, the highest yield was found to be at 0.5%. Among the studied species, the highest collagen yield was determined in sea bream scales in all studied ratios. The effects of enzyme ratios on the molecular weight distributions of the obtained hydrolysed collagens were determined by gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In the molecular weight distribution analysis of the collagen obtained from the study with 0.1% enzyme rate for sea bream, it was determined that the molecular weight of the hydrolysed collagen obtained by SDS-PAGE was less than 29 kDa and its weight density was around 6.5 kDa. Molecular weight distributions of hydrolysed collagens obtained at 0.3% and 0.5% ratios from sea bream scales and at all enzyme ratios from graniose scales show that the density is around 6.5 kDa. It was determined that there was a large distribution in the molecular weight distribution of the hydrolysed collagen obtained with 0.1% enzyme rate of sea bass fish scales, and it was determined that there was no density in any region of this distribution. It was concluded that the density in the molecular weight distribution of the collagen obtained at other ratios studied in the production of collagen in sea bass fish scales was around 6.5 kDa. It was concluded that fish scales could be used as a source of enzymatic hydrolysed collagen in the project, and waste scales could contribute to the economy. In addition, as a result of the characterization of the obtained hydrolysed collagen, it has been revealed that the collagens obtained are similar to those used as biomaterials in the literature, therefore the obtained collagens have the potential to be used as a biomaterial.