TLDR Keratin from hair binds well to gold and BMP-2, useful for bone repair.
The 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 2-nm layer on gold substrates, and their cohesion in neutral water was driven by non-coulombic forces with a dissociation constant (KD) of 1.8 × 10^-4 M. BMP-2 showed a stronger binding to kerateines (KD = 1.1 × 10^-7 M), which weakened in the presence of salts (KD = 3.2 × 10^-5 M). BMP-2 release from kerateine gels was limited (~10% in 4 weeks) and was pH-dependent, with complete dissociation at pH 4.5. These findings highlighted the importance of pH and salt concentration in the binding dynamics, contributing to the development of keratin-based drug delivery systems for bone repair.
12 citations,
January 2014 in “Cell structure and function” Different combinations of human hair keratins affect how hair fibers form.
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.
99 citations,
June 2011 in “Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A” Keratin hydrogels can slowly release effective ciprofloxacin to prevent infections.
68 citations,
February 2011 in “European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics” Keratin films from human hair can potentially replace human nail plates for drug testing.
19 citations,
January 2009 in “International review of cell and molecular biology” Hair's strength and flexibility come from its protein structure and molecular interactions.
Keratin hydrogels from human hair show promise for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
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.
517 citations,
February 2010 in “Materials” Keratin from hair and wool is used in medical materials for healing and drug delivery.
2 citations,
September 2020 in “Biomedical materials” Recombinant keratin materials may better promote skin cell differentiation than natural keratin.
159 citations,
July 2006 in “Endocrine Reviews” Estrogens significantly influence hair growth by interacting with receptors in hair follicles and may help regulate the hair growth cycle.
