TLDR Keratin treatment reduces astrocyte reactivity and inflammation.
The study investigated the impact of keratin-treated macrophage conditioned media (K-MCM) on reactive astrocytes in vitro, revealing that K-MCM significantly reduced aggrecan and GFAP levels in reactive astrocytes, unlike macrophage media alone. This indicated that keratin biomaterial treatment could modulate astrocyte behavior, potentially reducing the inhibitory environment of the glial scar post-spinal cord injury (SCI). The findings suggested that keratin biomaterials might promote neural repair by influencing macrophage polarization towards an M2 phenotype, thereby reducing astrocyte reactivity and CSPG production. Further in vivo studies were recommended to validate these results.
7 citations
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March 2014 in “ISRN Biomaterials” Keratin hydrogel from human hair helps rats recover better from spinal cord injuries.
140 citations
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August 2011 in “Biomaterials” Keratose, derived from human hair, is a non-toxic biomaterial good for tissue regeneration and integrates well with body tissues.
309 citations
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October 2007 in “Biomaterials” Keratin from human hair helps nerves heal faster.
30 citations
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March 2017 in “ACS biomaterials science & engineering” Hair follicles are valuable for regenerative medicine and wound healing.
Peptide hydrogels show promise for healing skin, bone, and nerves but need improvement in stability and compatibility.
2 citations
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May 2023 in “Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology” The document concludes that more research is needed on making and understanding biomaterial scaffolds for wound healing.
July 2025 in “Interdisciplinary materials” A microneedle patch with curcumin and stem cell components effectively treats hypertrophic scars and promotes healing.
25 citations
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December 2021 in “Stem Cell Research & Therapy” MSCs and their exosomes may speed up skin wound healing but need more research for consistent use.
