Effect of Varied Hair Protein Fractions on the Gel Properties of Keratin/Chitosan Hydrogels for Use in Tissue Engineering
November 2020
in “
Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces
”
TLDR Different hair protein amounts change the strength of keratin/chitosan gels, useful for making predictable tissue engineering materials.
The study investigated the impact of different hair protein fractions on the properties of keratin/chitosan hydrogels, which are used in tissue engineering. Specifically, it looked at how varying the ratios of keratin-associated proteins (KAPs) and keratin intermediate filaments (KIFs) within the hydrogel affected its mechanical strength. The study found that by adjusting the KAPs/KIFs ratios, the compressive and tensile modulus of the hydrogel could be controlled, leading to more consistent gel properties. This suggests a method for preparing keratin/chitosan hydrogels with predictable characteristics, which is beneficial for their application in tissue engineering.