Reactive Keratin Derivatives: A Promising Strategy for Covalent Binding to Hair

September 2018 in “ Journal of colloid and interface science ”

Christina Leichner, Christian Steinbring, Randi Angela Baus, Daniel Baecker, Ronald Gust, Andreas Bernkop‐Schnürch

keratin reactive keratin derivatives sulfhydryl groups thiol functionalization confocal laser microscopy cuticle layer thiol groups

Studysummary This study found that keratin derivatives with functionalized thiol groups improved binding to both natural and bleached hair fibers, suggesting a promising strategy for enhancing keratin's durability in hair repair.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The study explored enhancing the binding of keratin to hair fibers by creating reactive keratin derivatives with free sulfhydryl groups. Keratin was extracted from human hair and modified to increase its binding affinity. The modified keratin showed up to 1.7-fold improved binding to natural hair and up to 3.6-fold improved binding to bleached hair. Confocal laser microscopy confirmed the accumulation of these derivatives in the cuticle layer, suggesting that thiol functionalization could be an effective strategy for durable keratin binding to hair.

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