Preparation of Scaffolds from Human Hair Proteins for Tissue-Engineering Applications

April 2008 in “ Biomedical Materials ”

Vipin Kumar Verma, Poonam Verma, Pratima Ray, Alok R. Ray

human hair proteins keratin tissue-engineering scaffolds NIH3T3 fibroblast cells lyophilization hydrophilic nature cell-cell interactions cell-matrix interactions hair proteins

Studysummary This study found that scaffolds made from human hair proteins supported better cell growth and interactions than control surfaces, indicating potential use in tissue engineering.

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

The study focused on using human hair proteins to create scaffolds for tissue-engineering applications. These proteins were tested for cellular compatibility using NIH3T3 mice fibroblast cells. Characterization techniques revealed keratin molecular weights of 40-60 kDa and matrix proteins of 15-30 kDa, with keratin pIs between 4.5-5.3. The proteins formed sponges through lyophilization, and their hydrophilic nature was confirmed with a contact angle of 37 degrees. The protein-coated surfaces supported enhanced cell growth and three-dimensional morphology, indicating their potential as scaffolds due to improved cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions.

View this study on validate.perfdrive.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

5 / 5 results

research The Use of Keratin Biomaterials Derived from Human Hair for the Promotion of Rapid Regeneration of Peripheral Nerves

309 citations , October 2007 in “Biomaterials”

This study found that a biomaterial gel made from human hair keratins facilitated nerve regeneration in an animal model, potentially matching the effectiveness of traditional autografts.

research Human Hair: A Unique Physicochemical Composite

203 citations , June 2003 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This article reviews the structure and chemistry of hair across ethnicities and how these factors affect hair properties and treatment responses, but reports no new research findings.

research A Rapid Extraction Procedure of Human Hair Proteins and Identification of Phosphorylated Species

226 citations , January 2002 in “Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin”

This study developed a rapid method to extract proteins from human hair, revealing phosphorylation on serine and threonine residues in alpha-keratins and matrix proteins.

research Electrophoretic Variation of Hair Proteins

2 citations , November 1996 in “PubMed”

In this study, a "frequent profile" of hair proteins was observed in 180 of 182 individuals, showing consistent electrophoretic bands characteristic of keratins, with rare deviations in two samples.

research Two-Dimensional Electrophoretic Analysis of Human Hair Keratins, Especially Hair Matrix Proteins

10 citations , January 1989 in “Archives of Dermatological Research”

The method effectively analyzes human hair proteins, especially nonfilamentous ones.