The New Zealand Leather and Shoe Research Association (LASRA) has developed the Collagen Toolbox, an analytical platform designed to characterise collagen derivatives. This innovative tool is tailored to meet the diverse needs of both industry and research sectors, providing comprehensive support in navigating regulatory landscapes and facilitating co-product development.
Central to the Toolbox’s design is a user-friendly interface coupled with support from an extensive in-house database, enabling a broad spectrum of analyses. The Toolbox’s analytical framework is organised into three primary categories: Chemical, encompassing purity, impurities, enzymatic resistance assessments, etc.; Physical, including visualisation, moisture content, viscosity, denaturation temperature analyses, etc.; and Biochemical, focusing on total protein, lipid content, and cross-linking evaluations, etc.
Beyond technical support, the Collagen Toolbox aims to establish itself as a national and potentially international reference point, bridging the gap between local expertise and global collaboration in collagen research. Its adaptability for future expansions and updates ensures that it remains at the forefront of technological and research advancements in the field. This poster will provide an extensive overview of the Collagen Toolbox, a specialised platform designed to characterise collagen-based materials and their derivatives thoroughly.