Investigations on the Penetration of Hydrolyzed Wheat Proteins into Human Hair by Confocal Laser-Scanning Fluorescence Microscopy

The study investigated the penetration of hydrolyzed wheat proteins into human hair using confocal laser-scanning fluorescence microscopy. The proteins were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate and applied to untreated hair, as well as hair treated with permanent waving, bleaching, or relaxers. The research found that the penetration of these proteins was extensive across all hair types. The main sites of protein occupation were the endocuticle, the cortex (particularly nuclear remnants), the intermacrofibrillar matrix, and along cell boundaries. The study concluded that the fluorescently labeled peptides served as a satisfactory model for studying the diffusion of native peptides in hair.