Binding Interactions of Keratin-Based Hair Fiber Extract to Gold, Keratin, and BMP-2

This study investigated the binding interactions of keratin-based hair fiber extracts (kerateines) with gold, other kerateines, and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2). Kerateines formed a stable layer on gold substrates and exhibited cohesion in neutral water, driven by non-coulombic forces. BMP-2 showed strong binding to kerateines, which was reduced by the presence of salts and further weakened at lower pH levels. The findings highlighted the importance of pH and salt concentration in the binding dynamics, suggesting that keratin biomaterials could be optimized for controlled drug release in tissue engineering applications, particularly for bone repair and regeneration.