Published on 12 Aug 2022

Clinical-Grade Collagen Made From Discarded Bullfrog Skin Leapfrogging to Clinics Soon - Assoc Prof Dalton Tay

We are pleased to share that Assoc Prof Dalton Tay’s research on developing a new biomaterial from aquaculture waste for bone repair has scaled to new heights.

In recent developments, the team has come up with a way to develop clinical-grade collagen made from discarded bullfrog skin. The collagen acts as a scaffold for white blood cells and healing agents to coagulate, forming a protective layer for the healing to begin. It also encourages faster healing by keeping wounds moist.

Through NTUitive, their patented technology has been exclusively licensed to Cuprina Wound Care Solutions (Cuprina) for scale-up and commercial production. Cuprina has set up a satellite lab at the Life Science Incubator in Singapore to replicate NTU’s collagen extraction and dressing product development as part of the scale-up.

Cuprina is a Singapore MedTech firm specialising in developing products to treat chronic wounds such as those suffered by diabetes patients.
If successful, the product will complement Cuprina’s MEDIFLY, a flagship product clinically proven to eliminate chronic wound infections and reduce amputation rates caused by wounds, e.g. diabetic foot ulcers.

For a full media release, please visit NTU News: Bullfrog skin to leapfrog from lab bench to clinics for wound healing soon.

"As part of the NTU 2025 Strategic Plan and its Sustainability Manifesto, we are developing innovative ways to turn waste into useful materials to tackle some of humanity’s greatest challenges […] In our partnership with Cuprina, we are glad to be able to fulfil both the circular bioeconomy aims and the healthcare demands of Singapore with one innovation."
- Assoc Prof Dalton Tay -

Assoc Prof Dalton Tay (front right) and team with samples of bullfrog skin, along with a wound patch incorporating collagen extracted from such skins (lower right). Source: NTU Singapore


ChannelNewsAsia (CNA) presenter, Ms Dawn Tan (left), spoke with Mr Carl Baptista (centre), Founder & CTO of Cuprina Holdings, and Assoc Prof Dalton Tay (right) to learn more about the new clinical-grade collagen and development plans between NTU and Cuprina moving forward. Source: CNA YouTube


Please see below for the earlier media coverage in 2021.
Our heartiest congratulations to Assoc Prof Dalton Tay and his team on this excellent achievement!

Related stories

P&G, A*STAR and NTU Developed Singapore's First Wearable Sensor for Real-Time Skin Feel Measurement

Published on 03 Oct 2024

Scientists Achieve Breakthrough in Piezoelectric Thin Films with Record-Breaking Performance

Published on 20 Sep 2024

Breakthrough in Intracranial Monitoring

Published on 12 Jul 2024

NTU Scientists Developed A Versatile Drug Delivery System Inspired by Self-Assembling Protein from Caterpillars

Published on 13 May 2024

Low-Carbon Energy Research (LCER) Programme Phase 2

Published on 11 Apr 2024

NTUitive Gap Fund – Professor Joachim Loo and Associate Professor Aravind Dasari

Published on 08 Jan 2024