Technical Specifications & Science
The Science Behind SBM-COL1
Technical characterisation of our tilapia-derived Type 1 atelo-collagen, from source material to validated performance data.
Purity & Quality
Analytical Standards
Every production lot of SBM-COL1 goes through a full analytical characterisation panel before release. Our proprietary low-temperature extraction protocol combines selective enzymatic solubilisation, multi-stage centrifugal clarification, and advanced tangential-flow membrane refinement. This removes non-collagenous proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and cellular debris while preserving the structural triple-helix matrix.
A single dominant band at approximately 130 kDa (α1 chain) and 100 kDa (α2 chain) on reducing SDS-PAGE confirms high-purity Type 1 collagen with minimal contaminating proteins.
LAL chromogenic assay confirms endotoxin levels well below the 1 EU/mg threshold for in vitro research, supporting cell viability in sensitive culture systems.
DSC confirms denaturation onset at 35°C or above, higher than porcine collagen (32 to 34°C), ensuring structural integrity at physiological temperature.
Tilapia origin removes all risk of BSE and TSE. No mammalian-derived materials are used at any stage of production.
Extraction Process
Pilot-Scale Production Workflow
Our pilot-scale process converts 10 kg batches of DEFRA/APHA-approved tilapia skins into ultra-pure collagen over a 5 to 7 day cycle. Each step is carried out under refrigerated conditions below 10°C to preserve triple-helix integrity prior to lyophilisation.
Category 3 Skins
DEFRA/APHA-approved tilapia skin and scale side-streams received under APHA Category 3 ABP Registration.
Alkaline & Salt Pre-Wash
Selective washing phases remove non-collagenous proteins, pigments, and lipids from raw tissue.
Enzymatic Cleavage
Temperature-controlled enzymatic solubilisation cleaves telopeptide regions to yield low-immunogenicity atelo-collagen.
Centrifugal Clarification
High-speed refrigerated centrifugation removes insoluble debris and undissolved cellular material.
Membrane Refinement
Precision membrane dialysis removes residual processing agents and low-molecular-weight contaminants.
Sterile Processing & Lyophilisation
0.22 µm sterile filtration followed by manifold lyophilisation to yield pure Stratum-Sponge format.
Self-Assembly Behaviour
3D Hydrogel Assembly at Neutral pH
SBM-COL1 undergoes fibrillogenesis when neutralised to physiological pH (7.0 to 7.4) and warmed to 37°C. This produces a fibrillar hydrogel network that closely resembles native extracellular matrix. The process is reversible under acidic conditions, allowing flexible formulation workflows.
Acid Solubilisation
SBM-COL1 is supplied in 0.02M acetic acid, keeping it fully soluble and preventing premature fibrillogenesis during storage and handling.
Neutralisation
Adding neutralisation buffer (PBS or HEPES-based) adjusts pH to 7.0 to 7.4. Temperature is kept at 4°C to delay gelation during mixing.
Thermal Gelation
Warming to 37°C triggers fibrillogenesis. Gelation is typically complete within 30 to 60 minutes, forming a transparent fibrillar hydrogel.
3D Network Formation
The resulting hydrogel has a porous fibrillar architecture with pore sizes of 1 to 10 µm, suitable for cell encapsulation, migration assays, and scaffold fabrication.
Source Material
Certified Warm-Water Tilapia Skins
SBM-COL1 is derived from the skins of warm-water tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) sourced from certified aquaculture facilities. Tilapia is a sustainable and practical collagen source compared to mammalian alternatives.
Sustainability
Tilapia skins are a by-product of the food industry, converting waste material into a high-value biomedical ingredient. No additional animals are raised solely for collagen production.
Zoonotic Safety
Fish-derived collagen carries no risk of prion diseases such as BSE, CJD, or scrapie, which simplifies ethics approvals and regulatory submissions.
Thermal Profile
Warm-water tilapia collagen has a higher denaturation temperature than cold-water fish species such as cod or salmon, which denature below 20°C and are not suitable for human cell culture at 37°C.
Amino Acid Profile
High glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline content consistent with Type 1 collagen. The hydroxylysine glycosylation pattern differs from mammalian sources, which is relevant for cell-receptor interactions.
Key Applications
Validated Across Research Disciplines
2D Cell Coating
SBM-COL1 at 10 to 50 µg/cm² provides a physiologically relevant substrate for adherent cell culture. Supports attachment and proliferation of primary cells, stem cells, and epithelial lines. Compatible with standard tissue culture plasticware.
3D Bioprinting Hydrogels
Suitable viscosity at 3 to 6 mg/mL for extrusion-based bioprinting. Consistent gelation kinetics support reproducible construct fabrication. Compatible with standard bioprinter platforms and crosslinking agents.
Regenerative Medicine Scaffolds
High purity and low endotoxin support long-term cell viability in 3D scaffold systems. Suitable for bone, cartilage, skin, and corneal tissue engineering models. Compatible with freeze-drying for porous scaffold fabrication.
Organoid & Spheroid Culture
Provides a soft, tuneable matrix for organoid embedding and spheroid culture. Stiffness can be adjusted by concentration (0.5 to 6 mg/mL) to match target tissue mechanics.
Drug Delivery Matrices
Biodegradable hydrogel matrix for controlled release studies. Degradation rate can be adjusted via crosslink density. Suitable for in vitro drug release modelling and injectable scaffold research.
Wound Healing Models
Physiologically relevant substrate for in vitro wound healing and migration assays. Supports scratch assay, transwell migration, and 3D invasion model formats.
Comparative Analysis
How SBM-COL1 Compares
| Parameter | SBM-COL1 (Tilapia) | Porcine | Bovine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source | Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) | Pig skin/tendon | Bovine hide/tendon |
| BSE/TSE Risk | None | Low | Present |
| Thermal Stability (Td) | ≥35°C | 32 to 34°C | 36 to 37°C |
| Purity (SDS-PAGE) | >95% | Varies | Varies |
| Endotoxin | <0.1 EU/mg | Variable | Variable |
| Ethics Approval | Simplified | Standard | Standard |
| CoA per Batch | Yes | Varies | Varies |
Request a Technical Data Package
Full technical data packages including representative SDS-PAGE gels, DSC thermograms, and LAL assay reports are available on request for grant applications and institutional procurement.