Rational Design of Keratin-Based Injectable Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

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.