Keratin as structural protein is a supermolecular aggregate ofindividual polypeptide strands with functional amino acids.  Various morphologies contributed by microfibrillar structure of alpha-helix and beta-sheet motifs and disulfide bridges provide structural integrity, and strength and rigidity through permanent, thermally-stable crosslinks.  Keratin as dense and porous materials has been used to restore form and function as biocompatible orthopedic material.  Implaned keratin showed biocompatibility for cell tissue as antithrombogenic biomaterial and it has proved useful as scafflods for fibroblasts.  keratin is of significant interest as biomaterial for biotechnological and biomedical applicatons in medical, pharmaceutical and realted fields.  In the forms of gels, mats, scaffolds, hydrogels, films and other physical forms there is high potential for niche-market developments.  Sponge/hydrogel keratin peptide (6-8,Da) and protein (40-60kD) were self-formed as stable, malleable, porous, interpenetrating networks iwth reversible deformation up to 60% compression.  The penetration, absorption, swelling and release kinetics were examined by applying various mechanistic diffusion models.  The good fit of the Korsmeyer-Peppas model to the relase data showed that riboflavin was released from the keratin network into simulated gastric fluid with a quasi-Fickian diffusion mechanism.  These polyampholyte biopolymers can provide slow, controlled release of active-agents as functional platforms capable of delivering therapeutic treatments beneficial for health, medicine, and personal care while providing the benefits of the natural adhesion of keratin to keratinous substrates.

Keratin sponge/hydrogel: Interpenetrating biopolymer network for riboflavin delivery

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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