Biomaterials Based on Jellyfish Collagen from the Black Sea and Other Marine-Derived Biocomposites with Medical Applications
Emin Cadar, Horatiu Miresan, Laura Ana-Maria Dragan, Ana-Maria Pesterau, Ionuț Mircioiu, Carolina Pascale, Rodica Sirbu, Cristina-Crenguta Albu, Lucia Bubulac, Claudia Florina Bogdan Andreescu, Adrian Cosmin RoscaThe Black Sea offers underutilized marine bioresources with potential for the development of materials intended for wound healing and skin tissue repair. In this study, new composite biomaterials were created using collagen peptides extracted from the jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo (JPC) and hydroalcoholic extracts from the seaweeds Ulva lactuca (ALGU) and Enteromorpha intestinalis (ALGE). The marine-derived ingredients and resulting biocomposites were physicochemically and rheologically characterized and evaluated for antioxidant, antimicrobial, and biological activities on cell cultures relevant to wound healing. Two hydrogel biocomposites, B1 (JPC–ALGU 20%) and B2 (JPC–ALGE 20%), exhibited antioxidant activity of 65.2% and 63.5%, respectively, in the DPPH assay at a concentration of 400 mg/mL, and values of 1.26 μg/mg AAE and 1.15 μg/mg AAE, respectively, in the reducing power assay at a concentration of 800 µg/mL. Antibacterial activity was investigated against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The strongest effects were observed against Staphylococcus aureus. In vitro tests conducted on fibroblast and keratinocyte cultures revealed concentration-dependent cellular responses, while scratch assays confirmed the formulations’ potential to promote cell migration. These results support further investigation of jellyfish collagen–green algae biocomposites for wound-healing and skin tissue-repair applications, although additional dose optimization and in vivo validation are required.