Type I collagen is a popular biomaterial for use in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications owing to its abundance in natural tissues and its natural functions within the body as a scaffold material with favourable cell-interactive properties. In this book, the authors present current research in the study of the biological functions, synthesis and medicinal applications of Type I collagen. Topics discussed include collagen type I as a candidate for in vivo delivery systems for cells, proteins, and drugs; degradation of type I collagen and the pathogenesis of infectious diseases; Type I collagen's synthesis, biological functions and medical applications during systemic inflammation; using collagen-based scaffolds in tissue engineering and repair; type I collagens from marine sources; and the role of extracellular matrix in the wound repair process.
