TLDR Keratin from human hair shows promise for medical uses like wound healing and tissue engineering.
The study characterized keratin hydrogels derived from human hair proteins, specifically K31 and K81, which formed stable, porous structures upon rehydration. These keratin-based biomaterials demonstrated potential for various medical applications, including cell culture, wound healing, and hemostasis, due to their ability to support cell adhesion and growth. The research highlighted the unique properties of keratin, such as its stability and compatibility, making it a promising candidate for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The study also emphasized the importance of understanding the structural characteristics of keratin to optimize its biological interactions and applications.
47 citations,
September 2011 in “Acta biomaterialia” Protein composition greatly affects the function of keratin biomaterials.
140 citations,
August 2011 in “Biomaterials” Keratose, derived from human hair, is a non-toxic biomaterial good for tissue regeneration and integrates well with body tissues.
53 citations,
July 2011 in “Biomaterials” Human liver cells stick to hair protein materials mainly through the liver's asialoglycoprotein receptor.
517 citations,
February 2010 in “Materials” Keratin from hair and wool is used in medical materials for healing and drug delivery.
309 citations,
October 2007 in “Biomaterials” Keratin from human hair helps nerves heal faster.
13 citations,
July 2017 in “Biopolymers” Recombinant keratins can form useful structures for medical applications, overcoming natural keratin limitations.
Keratin hydrogels from human hair show promise for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Human hair keratins can self-assemble and support cell growth, useful for biomedical applications.
2 citations,
September 2020 in “Biomedical materials” Recombinant keratin materials may better promote skin cell differentiation than natural keratin.
22 citations,
August 2015 in “PloS one” Keratin from hair binds well to gold and BMP-2, useful for bone repair.