Self‐assembly and cross‐linking preparation of tilapia‐skin‐derived collagen/alginate hydrogels for efficient wound repairing

Abstract Collagen (Col)‐based composite hydrogels have attracted wide attention because of the additional properties that the second component brings to the hydrogel. Here we reported self‐assembly of collagen and cross‐linking of alginate with Ca 2+ to prepare a novel composite hydrogel with Tilapia‐skin‐derived collagen and alginate for efficient wound repairing as the wound dressing. The composite hydrogels exhibited higher water content, coupled with a significant increase in water retention rates upon the incorporation of alginate. As the concentration of alginate rose, the cross‐linking network became tighter, thereby not only modifying the internal structure of the hydrogel but also enhancing its mechanical strength. Moreover, the collagen degradation rate in the composite hydrogels was greatly reduced through addition of alginate, and the collagen‐alginate composite hydrogels exhibited low cytotoxicity, and improved wound healing efficacy, accelerating the maturation of skin attachments and the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). These results suggested that the composite hydrogel formed by fish‐derived collagen and alginate held promising potential as a wound dressing for challenging and refractory wounds.