A protein found in fish could promote wound healing in humans, a new study has claimed.
Scientists have found that a protein in tilapia fish can promote skin repair in rats without an immune reaction, suggesting possible future use for human patients.
Applying collagen - a major structural protein in animals - to wounds can help encourage skin to heal faster.
However, when the protein dressing comes from mammals such as cows and pigs, it has the potential to transmit conditions such as foot-and-mouth disease.
In a study published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, researchers tested fish collagen's potential as a more benign wound treatment.
The researchers developed nanofibres from tilapia collagen and used them to cover skin wounds on rats.
They found that rats with the nanofibre dressing healed faster than those without it.
In addition, lab tests on cells suggested that the fish collagen was not likely to cause an immune reaction. The researchers concluded that it could be a good candidate to develop for clinical use.
