A Review of Keratin-Based Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications

doi:10.3390/ma3020999

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Materials 2010, 3(2), 999-1014; doi:10.3390/ma3020999

Review

A Review of Keratin-Based Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications

Jillian G. Rouse and Mark E. Van Dyke *

Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 6 January 2009; in revised form: 24 January 2010 / Accepted: 26 January 2010 / Published: 3 February 2010

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biomaterials)

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Abstract: Advances in the extraction, purification, and characterization of keratin proteins from hair and wool fibers over the past century have led to the development of a keratin-based biomaterials platform. Like many naturally-derived biomolecules, keratins have intrinsic biological activity and biocompatibility. In addition, extracted keratins are capable of forming self-assembled structures that regulate cellular recognition and behavior. These qualities have led to the development of keratin biomaterials with applications in wound healing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, trauma and medical devices. This review discusses the history of keratin research and the advancement of keratin biomaterials for biomedical applications.

Keywords: keratin; human hair protein; natural biomaterial; protein film; scaffold

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Rouse, J.G.; Van Dyke, M.E. A Review of Keratin-Based Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications. Materials 2010, 3, 999-1014.

AMA Style

Rouse J.G., Van Dyke M.E. A Review of Keratin-Based Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications. Materials. 2010; 3(2):999-1014.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rouse, Jillian G.; Van Dyke, Mark E. 2010. "A Review of Keratin-Based Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications." Materials 3, no. 2: 999-1014.

Materials EISSN 1996-1944 Published by MDPI Publishing, Basel, Switzerland RSS E-Mail Table of Contents Alert