Understanding the Biochemical Properties of Human Hair Keratins: Self-Assembly Potential and Cell Response

The doctoral thesis investigated the biochemical properties of human hair keratins, focusing on their self-assembly potential and cell response. It developed protocols for reconstructing intermediate filaments from keratin extracts, producing fibers with diameters of 6-10 nm in acidic conditions. The study found that keratins maintained antioxidant properties, protected human dermal fibroblasts from oxidative stress, and promoted cell proliferation, indicating potential biomedical applications. The research highlighted the role of pH in the self-assembly process, with optimal conditions being 2.5 mM citric acid at pH 2.9. Purified keratin fractions did not form uniform nanofilaments, suggesting a loss of self-assembly activity post-purification. The study concluded that human hair keratins have significant self-assembly potential and can support cell growth, making them promising for biomedical applications.