Table 1.
Differences between collagen and gelatin.
| Property | Collagen | Gelatin |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Animals/humans | Col from bones/skin |
| Precursor | Fibroblast | Col type I |
| Physical characteristics | Elastic, tough and versatile structural protein | Smooth and gel like substances |
| Number of Amino acids | Approximately 1050 | Less than 20 |
| Structure of peptide | Triple helix of polypeptide chain | Small peptides |
| Types | Fibril-forming and nonfibril forming | A and B |
| Aromatic radicals | Present | Absent |
| Solubility | NaCI solution/dilute acid | H2O |
| Mechanical strength | Poor | Poor |
| Antigenic response | Possible, in case of crosslinking/integration with antibacterial agent | Impossible, Because of its hydrophilicity nature. |
| Digestion | Difficult | Easy |
| Protease | Resistant | Susceptible |
| Gelling properties | No | Yes |
| In vitro degradation | Serine protease, pepsin-cleaving enzyme, gelatinease and collagenase | Collagenase |
| In vivo degradation | Endopeptidase | MMP-2 and MMP-9 |
| Disease transmission | Xenozoonoses if the Col is impure | Not encountered |
| Usage | Burns, hemostasis, tissue defects, regeneration of nerves, wound dressings, augmentation of soft tissue, artificial dermis skin replacement | Adhesive of soft tissues, artificial skin, regeneration of nerves, wound dressings |