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.
53 citations
,
July 2011 in “Biomaterials” This study observed that hepatocyte adhesion to human hair keratin biomaterials was mediated by the hepatic ASGPR, as blocking this receptor reduced cell attachment.
7 citations
,
March 2014 in “ISRN Biomaterials” In this study, a keratin hydrogel improved survival rates and functional recovery in rats with spinal cord injuries, suggesting potential for SCI treatment that merits further investigation.
6 citations
,
January 2016 in “Open journal of regenerative medicine” This study found that macrophages treated with keratin in vitro were more similar to anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages and reduced astrocyte reactivity, potentially limiting secondary inflammatory damage after spinal cord injury.
1 citations
,
March 2006 in “The FASEB journal” This study found that keratin scaffolds derived from human hair promoted excellent cell viability and showed minimal inflammatory response and vascular integration when tested in in vitro and in vivo settings.
June 2025 in “Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine” This study highlights keratin biomaterials as a promising biocompatible option for wound healing and tissue regeneration but notes that further clinical studies are necessary to confirm their effectiveness.
April 2009 in “The FASEB Journal” This study demonstrated that a keratin gel promotes nerve regeneration across critical defects in rabbit models, showing improved nerve conduction and muscle action potential compared to control treatments.
517 citations
,
February 2010 in “Materials” This review discusses the history and development of keratin biomaterials for biomedical uses, highlighting their biological activity and biocompatibility, and provides no new research findings.
115 citations
,
August 2014 in “Jo'jig gonghag gwa jaesaeng uihag/Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine” Human hair keratin can be used in many medical applications.
9 citations
,
November 2024 in “Biotechnology for Sustainable Materials” This paper critically reviews recent advances in the use of keratin-based biomaterials, highlighting their potential applications in wound healing, drug delivery, and tissue regeneration due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to support cell growth.
April 2016 in “한국고분자학회 학술대회 연구논문 초록집” 47 citations
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September 2011 in “Acta biomaterialia” This study observed that increasing the γ-kerateine content in meta-kerateine materials led to reduced elasticity, solidity, and hydrolytic stability, and decreased hepatocyte attachment support.
27 citations
,
April 2018 in “Artificial Cells Nanomedicine and Biotechnology” This study reported that recombinant human hair keratins, K37 and K81, showed higher purity and enhanced fibrin clot formation compared to traditional extracts, reducing bleeding time and blood loss in rat injury models.
22 citations
,
August 2015 in “PloS one” This study found that the binding and release of BMP-2 from kerateine biomaterials are significantly influenced by pH and salt concentration, highlighting the potential for developing improved bone repair systems.
November 2020 in “Research Square (Research Square)” In a mouse model, this study found that intradermal keratin injection stimulated hair growth and suggested its potential use for treating hair loss by promoting hair regeneration.
1 citations
,
September 2023 in “ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering” Human hair keratin hydrogels show promise for use in regenerative medicine.
140 citations
,
August 2011 in “Biomaterials” This study observed that keratose, derived from human hair, integrated well in mouse tissue and remodeled with collagen, suggesting potential as a non-toxic biomaterial for regenerative applications.
118 citations
,
January 2013 in “Biomaterials” This study characterized keratin-based biomaterials that self-assemble into hydrogels, demonstrating their potential to achieve hemostasis in a lethal liver injury model through specific biomaterial-receptor interactions.
1 citations
,
January 2019 in “Studia Biologica” This review discusses the properties and extraction methods of keratins from natural fibers and highlights their promising applications in fields such as biomedicine, bioengineering, and forensic science, but reports no new experimental results.
1 citations
,
June 2009 in “WakeSpace (Wake Forest University)” This study found that keratin biomaterials derived from human hair promoted significant motor function recovery and neuromuscular regeneration in animal models of peripheral nerve injuries.
January 2019 in “Durham e-Theses (Durham University)” This study utilized advanced imaging techniques to quantify hair damage and dye uptake dynamics, revealing that compound penetration in hair is influenced by molecule size and lipophilicity.
69 citations
,
October 2013 in “Tissue Engineering Part A” This study found that using a keratin hydrogel scaffold as a filler in collagen nerve conduits significantly improved nerve regeneration and motor recovery in Macaca fascicularis monkeys compared to saline.
30 citations
,
March 2017 in “ACS biomaterials science & engineering” This review discusses the structure and regenerative potential of hair follicles, highlighting their role in wound healing, stem cell populations, and keratin-based biomaterials, but it reports no new clinical results.
December 2019 in “C&EN Global Enterprise” This study found that the internal structure and fracture patterns of hair vary among different mammal species, which could inform the development of keratin-based biomaterials for medical and cosmetic applications.
12 citations
,
February 2011 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” This research describes methods to analyze the mechanical properties and fracture characteristics of hair across different types and ages, using specialized tensile testing and imaging techniques, without reporting new results.
36 citations
,
July 2019 in “Journal of Materials Science Materials in Medicine” This study demonstrated that keratin derived from human hair can improve axon extension and alleviate motor deficits from sciatic nerve injuries, highlighting its potential as a promising biomaterial for peripheral nerve regeneration.
February 2026 in “International Journal of Biological Macromolecules” In this study, researchers developed a novel periodate oxidation method for extracting keratin micro-units from waste hair and feathers, achieving yields of 31.28% and 20.64% respectively, enhancing the stability of oil-in-water emulsions and suggesting potential for sustainable biomaterial production.
6 citations
,
October 2016 This article reviews the complex structure and molecular composition of hair keratins, highlighting their self-assembly process and implications for keratin extraction techniques, but reports no new experimental results.
1 citations
,
January 2016 in “Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology” This study reports that keratin-based materials derived from human hair have potential for use in tissue engineering, showing promising bioactivity and mechanical support in preliminary evaluations.
January 2007 in “The FASEB journal” In this study, keratin hydrogels derived from human hair were found to significantly enhance nerve regeneration in a mouse model, acting effectively as scaffolds by influencing Schwann cell behavior.