TLDR Protein composition greatly affects the function of keratin biomaterials.
The study explored the development of keratin-based biomaterials derived from human hair, focusing on the extraction and purification of keratins to improve their mechanical properties for biomedical applications. By using reductive chemistry, the researchers extracted keratins and separated them into α- and γ-fractions, which were then recombined to create "meta-kerateines" with varied properties. The findings indicated that purified keratin extracts could form more robust and stable biomaterials compared to crude extracts, highlighting the potential for designing materials with specific physical, chemical, and biological characteristics for tissue engineering.
517 citations,
February 2010 in “Materials” Keratin from hair and wool is used in medical materials for healing and drug delivery.
309 citations,
October 2007 in “Biomaterials” Keratin from human hair helps nerves heal faster.
356 citations,
December 1986 in “The journal of cell biology/The Journal of cell biology” Hair and nail cells share similar proteins, indicating a common differentiation pathway.
517 citations,
February 2010 in “Materials” Keratin from hair and wool is used in medical materials for healing and drug delivery.
8 citations,
May 2020 in “International journal of biological macromolecules” Certain treatments can increase protein binding to natural hair but are less effective on permed hair.
Human hair keratins can be turned into useful 3D biomedical scaffolds through a freeze-thaw process.
96 citations,
September 2021 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” Chitosan, a natural substance, can be used to create tiny particles that effectively deliver various types of drugs, but more work is needed to improve stability and control of drug release.
Keratin hydrogels from human hair show promise for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
