BioCell Collagen

BioCell Collagen is a brand name for a hydrolyzed extracellular matrix (ECM) of the hyaline cartilage (articular cartilage) of chicken sternum, which naturally contains collagen type II andglycosaminoglycans (GAGs). It is different from hydrolyzed collagen also called collagen hydrolysate, gelatin, or gelatin hydrolysate, due to the presence of collagen type II instead of collagen type I and its co-presence of substantial amount of GAGs such as hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate.      

Source and Production

BioCell Collagen is derived from the hyaline cartilage in the sternum of young chicken employing a hydrolysis manufacturing process. The process of hydrolysis involves not only breaking down the molecular linkages in the triple helix of collagen trimers called tropocollagen but significantly reducing the molecular weight (or molecular mass) of collagen monomers to short chains ofpolypeptides.

Molecular composition and characteristics

BioCell Collagen contains approximately   % of protein (primarily collagen type II) and   % of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).

The hydrolysis process reduces collagen protein of about    Dalton (unit) (Da) into a profile of polypeptides having an average molecular weight between  ,    and  ,    Da. In addition, the molecular weight of GAGs such as hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate is also significantly reduced.

Amino acid composition

The amino acid composition of BioCell Collagen remains very similar to that of collagen type II because it is the predominant type of collagen in its source, the chicken sternal cartilage. BioCell Collagen contains    amino acids, with glycine, proline and hydroxyproline at relatively higher amounts compared to other proteins.

GAG content

In addition to hydrolyzed collagen type II, BioCell Collagen contains a significant amount of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as chondroitin sulfate (approximately   %) and hyaluronic acid

Effect on Health

Absorption

A bioavailability study in human healthy volunteers showed that the concentration of hyaluronic acid in the blood increased approximately    folds when      mg of BioCell Collagen was ingested daily for   weeks.

The absorbability of hydrolyzed collagen was demonstrated in a mouse gut-sac experiment to be more than   %. Radioactivity used to label hydrolyzed collagen was found to be deposited into the connective tissue such as cartilage and skin.

At least some portion of hydrolyzed collagen appears to be absorbed as peptides into the small intestine as human subjects who ingested hydrolyzed chicken cartilage containing hydrolyzed collagen type II and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) showed in the bloodstream a profile of collagen-derived peptides including proline-hydroxyproline dipeptide.  

Cosmetics

The cosmetic version of BioCell Collagen is called BioCell Collagen CG (cosmetic grade), and pending is its application for listing in the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) database as Collagen Peptide Aggrecan Hyaluronate Copolymer. It is a yellowish to amber liquid containing hydrolyzed collagen peptides and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, and may be found in skin care products such as skin serum and cream.