The Science Behind Smaller Molecules: How CollaSel Is Challenging the Collagen Industry’s Status Quo
The collagen supplement market has exploded in recent years. Valued at over $5 billion globally and projected to nearly double by the end of the decade, it’s one of the fastest-growing segments in the wellness industry. But behind the marketing claims and influencer endorsements, there’s a more technical conversation happening—one about molecular weight, bioavailability, and whether the collagen in most supplements actually reaches the parts of the body where it’s needed.
Sel Sanayi, a manufacturer with over six decades in gelatin and collagen production since 1961, has positioned itself at the centre of this conversation through its CollaSel brand. The company produces 500 Dalton low molecular weight collagen tripeptides from both bovine and fish sources—making it one of the few manufacturers in the world to offer both under a single facility.
Why Molecular Weight Matters
Most collagen supplements on the market today are hydrolysed collagen peptides with a molecular weight ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 Daltons. These are already broken down from the much larger native collagen molecule, but they still require further enzymatic digestion before the body can absorb and use them. The process works, but it’s not particularly efficient—absorption rates vary, and a typical recommended dose sits around 10 grams per day. Collagen tripeptides are a different proposition. At 500 Daltons, these are significantly smaller molecules—small enough, according to published research in the field, to be absorbed directly through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream without extensive digestion.
The practical implication is that a much smaller dose—around 2 grams—can deliver comparable or better results than conventional collagen peptides at five times the amount. “The science on tripeptides has been building for some time, particularly in Japan and South Korea,” says Selim Tezman, who leads Sel Sanayi as CEO. “What we’ve done is apply that science to our own manufacturing process, using both bovine and fish raw materials. Producing tripeptides from both sources under one roof was something the industry hadn’t seen before.”
From Gelatin Manufacturer to Collagen Innovator
Sel Sanayi is a subsidiary of Tezman Holding, a 78-year-old family conglomerate now in its third generation. The company has been producing gelatin since 1961—an industry that requires deep expertise in processing animal-derived proteins, managing complex supply chains, and meeting stringent food and pharmaceutical-grade standards. That background is central to the CollaSel story.
In 2019, Sel Sanayi expanded from gelatin into collagen peptide production, responding to surging demand from the nutraceutical and cosmetics sectors. The move into tripeptides—both bovine and fish-derived—came as a natural next step, a way to differentiate CollaSel in an increasingly crowded market where many manufacturers compete on price rather than product quality. “When you’ve been processing collagen-based products for over 60 years, you understand the raw material at a molecular level,” Tezman explains. “That’s what gave us the confidence to invest in tripeptide production. We weren’t starting from scratch—we were building on knowledge we already had.”
Applications Beyond Supplements
The applications for low molecular weight collagen tripeptides extend well beyond the supplement aisle. In dermocosmetics, the smaller molecular size means the peptides can penetrate deeper into the skin’s layers rather than sitting on the surface—a meaningful distinction for products targeting fine lines, elasticity loss, and long-term skin health. There’s also growing interest in collagen tripeptides for joint health, bone density, and sports recovery—areas where faster absorption and lower dosing requirements could make a practical difference for consumers.
Tezman sees these as established growth areas for CollaSel, with partnerships already in place across multiple markets. “We’re a manufacturer, not a consumer brand—our customers are the companies that formulate the end products,” he says. “Our job is to give them the highest quality raw material and let the science speak. We’re not in the business of making claims we can’t back up.”
What’s Next: 2026 and Beyond
CollaSel isn’t standing still. The company has a pipeline of new products slated for 2026 that Tezman believes will push the boundaries of what’s currently possible in protein manufacturing. “What we achieved with bovine and fish tripeptides was just the beginning,” he says. “We have new developments coming in 2026 that we believe will change the game again. Our R&D team has been working on these for some time, and we’re confident they’ll have a real impact on the industry.”
The Bigger Picture
The collagen market is at an inflection point. Consumer awareness is high, but so is scepticism—fuelled by a proliferation of products with questionable efficacy and vague labelling. For manufacturers like Sel Sanayi, the opportunity lies in pushing the science forward while maintaining transparency about what the products can and cannot do. CollaSel’s ability to produce both bovine and fish-sourced tripeptides under a single facility gives it a distinct manufacturing advantage.
Bovine-derived tripeptides open up the market to regions and consumer segments where fish-based products face cultural or supply chain limitations, while fish tripeptides serve markets with strong demand for marine-sourced ingredients. This dual capability provides flexibility for B2B customers looking to formulate products for different demographics and geographies.
“We’ve been in this industry since 1961. We’ve seen trends come and go,” Tezman says. “Collagen isn’t a trend—the science is real. The question for us is how to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in production, and make sure the quality never slips. With what we have planned for 2026, I think people will see that we’re serious about leading from the front.”
