Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) researchers discovered a promising use for ‘bangus’ fish skin, which is often discarded as waste, in treating wounds.
The team developed a sterilization method using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) that effectively prevents microbial growth on milkfish skin, making it suitable for wound care applications.
Tests revealed that the collagen structure in the treated fish skin remains intact, which is crucial for healing.
Notably, the quality of collagen in AgNP-treated bangus skin is comparable to that of tilapia skin, a widely used material for wound dressings.
This breakthrough suggests that milkfish skin could serve as an affordable and sustainable alternative for wound care, particularly in resource-limited settings.
“The straightforward AgNP synthesis method and the ubiquity of ‘bangus’ in local markets provide a unique opportunity for enhancing wound care accessibility, potentially revolutionizing the availability of beneficial, sterilized bandages across diverse healthcare landscapes in the Philippines and beyond,” the scientists said in their paper.
While these fish skin dressings are not intended for home use, they could significantly benefit medical professionals dealing with serious skin damage.
The study is the first to explore milkfish skin for this purpose, as previous research has focused mostly on tilapia.
“The study supports the hypothesis that ‘bangus’ skin is on par with tilapia skin in terms of structural characteristics, affirming its potential as a wound dressing material,” the paper argued.
Given its abundance in the Philippines, utilizing milkfish skin could reduce reliance on imported medical supplies and promote environmental sustainability by making use of materials that would otherwise be wasted.
Researchers emphasized that despite limited prior studies on ‘bangus’ skin’s suitability for wound care, its high collagen content presents valuable opportunities for expanding options in fish skin grafting.
“This research not only contributes to the field of regenerative medicine, but also promotes the sustainable use of underutilized resources in the Philippine aquatic industry, potentially transforming waste products into valuable medical materials.”
The findings were published in the BIO Web of Conferences by Dr. Janice Ragaza and Bianca Patrice Go from Ateneo de Manila University in November 2024.
