Human Hair Keratin Hydrogel: Fabrication, Characterization, and Application

January 2014

Shuai Wang

keratin hydrogel human hair 2D cell culture 3D cell culture soluble proteins CaCl₂ citrate buffer L929 cell proliferation collagen hydrogels biocompatibility cell viability cell attachment low immunogenicity subcutaneous transplantation tissue engineering regenerative medicine keratin calcium chloride collagen

TLDR Keratin hydrogels from human hair show promise for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

The study developed keratin-based hydrogels from human hair for 2D and 3D cell culture applications, yielding 24 ±1% soluble proteins. These hydrogels, induced by CaCl₂ or citrate buffer, supported L929 cell proliferation at 76% of the rate on collagen hydrogels and showed promising biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. The hydrogels maintained cell viability, supported cell attachment, and exhibited low immunogenicity in subcutaneous transplantation models. The study highlighted the potential of keratin hydrogels for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, though further research was recommended to enhance mechanical strength and ensure safety.

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Research cited in this study

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Keratin from hair and wool is used in medical materials for healing and drug delivery.

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272 citations , September 2001 in “Journal of Biological Chemistry”

Human hair keratins were cataloged, showing their roles in hair differentiation stages.

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235 citations , July 1999 in “Journal of biological chemistry/The Journal of biological chemistry”

Human hair is made up of different keratins, some strong and some weak, with specific types appearing at various stages of hair growth.

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Human Hair Keratin Hydrogel: Fabrication, Characterization, and Application

Research cited in this study

research In Vitro Assembly Properties of Human Type I and II Hair Keratins

research The Human Hair: From Anatomy to Physiology

research The Effect of Human Hair Keratin Hydrogel on Early Cellular Response to Sciatic Nerve Injury in a Rat Model

research Hemostatic Properties and the Role of Cell Receptor Recognition in Human Hair Keratin Protein Hydrogels

research Understanding the Nanotopography Changes and Cellular Influences Resulting from the Surface Adsorption of Human Hair Keratins

research Human Keratin Hydrogels Support Fibroblast Attachment and Proliferation In Vitro

research Structure–Property Relationships of Meta-Kerateine Biomaterials Derived from Human Hair

research Mechanical and Biological Properties of Keratose Biomaterials

research Mechanisms of Hepatocyte Attachment to Keratin Biomaterials

research Keratin Film Made of Human Hair as a Nail Plate Model for Studying Drug Permeation

research A Review of Keratin-Based Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications

research Preparation of Scaffolds from Human Hair Proteins for Tissue-Engineering Applications

research In Situ Tensile Deformation Characterization of Human Hair with Atomic Force Microscopy

research Novel Type I Hair Keratins K39 And K40 Are The Last To Be Expressed In Differentiation Of The Hair: Completion Of The Human Hair Keratin Catalog

research Structural Changes in Trichocyte Intermediate Filaments During Transition from Reduced to Oxidized Form

research Nucleation and Growth of Macrofibrils in Trichocyte (Hard-Alpha) Keratins

research Human Hair: A Unique Physicochemical Composite

research Hard and Soft Principles Defining the Structure, Function, and Regulation of Keratin Intermediate Filaments

research A Rapid Extraction Procedure of Human Hair Proteins and Identification of Phosphorylated Species

research The Catalog of Human Hair Keratins

research In Vitro Assembly and Structure of Trichocyte Keratin Intermediate Filaments

research The Catalog of Human Hair Keratins

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