Still, people did not think about how you can use fish scales. However, according to scientists at Nanyang technological University (Singapore), scales can provide considerable help in the treatment of various wounds.
As samples, the researchers used collagen extracted from scales of sea bass, snakehead and tilapia, which are bred in Singapore fish nursery. After appropriate processing of the collagen put on the skin of mice and he was able to accelerate the process of forming in her blood vessels and lymph nodes, which speaks in favor of efficient tissue regeneration.
Previously, the collagen obtained from the skins of cows, sheep and pigs has already been used in wound healing bandages, which, according to scientists, had significant shortcomings. Fish scale as a source of collagen, much cheaper, though, because that is a waste product that is normally discarded. Besides, as it turned out, it is more efficient.
In the previous study, the researchers determined that collagen from fish scales introduced in the umbilical vein of a person that contributed to the growth in the number of endothelial cells (cells forming the inner surface of blood and lymphatic vessels and heart cavities) in 2.5 times more efficient than using cow collagen.
Source — Nanyang Technological University