Aquatic collagen for tissue repair: process–structure–function design from sustainable sourcing to clinical translation

Aquatic-derived collagen has emerged as a promising biomaterial for tissue engineering and biotechnology due to its superior biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and structural compatibility with human ECM. This review synthesizes current progress on collagen from aquatic sources, highlighting sustainable extraction techniques such as ultrasonication and enzymatic hydrolysis. Compared to mammalian collagen, aquatic-derived collagen offers unique benefits, including a reduced zoonotic disease risk and increased environmental sustainability. We explore advanced fabrication techniques, including 3D printing and electrospinning, that utilize aquatic-derived collagen for a range of biomedical applications, from wound healing and bone regeneration to retinal tissue repair. By assessing both current applications and future directions, including the development of personalized scaffolds and intelligent biomaterials, we demonstrate the potential of aquatic-derived collagen to advance the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, providing sustainable solutions for next-generation therapeutic interventions. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This review links sustainability with translation in collagen biomaterials by consolidating evidence on aquatic collagen derived from fishery and aquaculture by-products. We critically compare green extraction routes and biofabrication strategies and map how they affect collagen structure, fibrillogenesis, mechanics, immunogenic risk and cell signaling relevant to regeneration. By benchmarking aquatic versus mammalian collagens and distilling design rules for printable, mineralized and antimicrobial hydrogels/bioinks, we show how waste valorization can reduce environmental burden while meeting functional demands in wound, musculoskeletal, ocular and cardiac repair. We also identify standardization gaps-including source variability, purity/endotoxin specifications and batch analytics-and propose practical reporting checklists to improve reproducibility and regulatory readiness. This review provides a mechanism-anchored, sustainability-first roadmap for translating discarded marine biomass into clinically relevant collagen materials.