Will collagen dissolve in water

Answer 1

Yes and no. Collagen will dissolve in water, but only at the right pH. At physiological pH (pH7.4) collagen is a stable structural protein which forms the scaffolding for skin and connective tissue in a body that is mostly water. What helps collagen stay stable in the body is also that it is crosslinked with glucosaminoglycans such as chondroitin or hyaluronic acid. Collagen can also be crosslinked in a lab with heat in the absence of water or with chemicals such as carbidiimide or glutaraldehyde. Collagen should start dissolving under pH5.

Answer 2

It depends on the collagen type (i.e. the amino acids that compose each collagen strand and the 3D structure of those strands). The human body has several types of collagen (collagen in the bone, collagen in hair, collagen in the extracellular matrix, tendons, etc.). It is the most abundant protein in your body. The most common type of collagen, type I, is fairly soluble in water, with it's solubility in the body increasing significantly during pregnancy

Answer 3

No