TLDR Electrostatic interactions mainly stabilize the binding of peptides to hair keratin.
The study conducted molecular dynamics simulations to predict the binding affinity of four peptides to human hair keratin. It found that electrostatic interactions were the primary force stabilizing the keratin/peptide complex. Using the molecular mechanics–Poisson‐Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) methodology, the researchers determined that the dielectric constant within the protein's interior significantly influenced the free energy calculations. To align the computational results with experimental binding data, they used an average dielectric constant.
150 citations,
July 2001 in “Clinics in dermatology” Proper haircare and communication with doctors are key to managing hair loss and avoiding damage.
51 citations,
March 2001 in “Clinics in dermatology” Bleaching damages hair, making it rougher and weaker.
86 citations,
January 1996 in “Clinics in dermatology” Hair can be damaged by daily routines, but protein-based products can protect and improve it.
13 citations,
May 2016 in “International journal of biological macromolecules” Keratin's mechanical properties are influenced by hydrogen bonds and secondary structure, and can be improved with the SPD-2 peptide.
53 citations,
July 2016 in “Cosmetics” Future hair cosmetics will be safer and more effective.
December 2023 in “The journal of physical chemistry. B (1997 : Online)” Human hair keratin might be good for filtering out harmful substances from water.
Human hair keratins can self-assemble and support cell growth, useful for biomedical applications.
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.
