Recombinant Human Hair Keratin Proteins for Halting Bleeding

The study investigated the haemostatic potential of recombinant human hair keratin proteins, K37 and K81, expressed in E. coli, which showed higher purity than traditional keratin extracts. These proteins enhanced fibrin clot formation and reduced bleeding time and blood loss in rat models of liver puncture and femoral artery injury. The keratins were rich in α-helix structures and participated in both intrinsic and extrinsic blood coagulation pathways, significantly shortening clot formation time. This research suggested a new strategy for designing keratin biomaterials for haemostasis, addressing previous challenges with keratin extracts.