Rational Design of Keratin-Based Injectable Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications
January 2016
in “
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
”
New to Keratin? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide → Studysummary This study developed keratin-based hydrogels with improved water solubility and tunable properties, demonstrating excellent cytocompatibility, suggesting potential for biomedical applications. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The study developed keratin-based in situ cross-linkable hydrogels with enhanced water solubility by introducing PEG molecules between the keratin backbone and TA molecules. This modification allowed the hydrogels to dissolve quickly and homogeneously in water, unlike intact keratin. The hydrogels exhibited multi-tunable physico-chemical properties, such as gelation time and mechanical strength, which could be controlled by varying HRP and H2O2 concentrations. The hydrogels also demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility in vitro, suggesting their potential for use as injectable materials in various biomedical applications, including therapeutic implants and vesicles.
