# Strategies for Optimizing the Yield and Function of Recombinant Collagen in Different Expression Systems: A Review

## TL;DR

This review discusses methods to improve the production and quality of recombinant collagen, a promising alternative to animal-derived collagen, for use in various industries.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of strategies to enhance yield and functionality of recombinant collagen across different expression systems.

## Key findings

- Recombinant collagen offers better biocompatibility and consistent quality compared to animal-derived collagen.
- Challenges include low yield and poor functionality, which can be addressed through gene editing and fermentation optimization.
- Case examples demonstrate successful application of strategies to improve recombinant collagen production.

## Abstract

Collagen is the most abundant structural and functional protein in humans and other vertebrates. It possesses remarkable biological functions and is widely used in food, cosmetics, and healthcare. Currently, mainstream animal-derived collagen materials carry risks such as viral transmission and allergic reactions. However, recombinant collagen, heterologously expressed using genetic recombination technology combined with high-density fermentation processes, offers greater biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and consistent quality, offering promising development prospects. However, current research on recombinant collagen still faces challenges such as low yield and poor functionality. This article briefly describes the structure, types, and functions of collagen, discusses the advantages and limitations of different recombinant collagen expression systems, and highlights the strategies for improving the yield and optimizing the function of recombinant collagen, ranging from gene editing to fermentation optimization. In highlighting practical approaches to achieving high yield, we present a series of case examples to illustrate the successful application of these principles. This review aims to help researchers, engineers, and industry practitioners better understand research trends in the expression and production of recombinant collagen, and to promote its further development and commercialization across diverse application areas.