Keratin Biomaterials in Biomedical Applications

Keratin, a structural protein abundantly found in hair, wool and feathers, has emerged as a versatile biomaterial for a range of biomedical applications. Its intrinsic biocompatibility, tunable biodegradation and capacity for self‐assembly enable the fabrication of diverse formats including films, sponges, fibres and hydrogels. Advances in extraction and purification techniques—spanning chemical reduction, ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents—have yielded keratin fractions with preserved high‐molecular‐weight proteins and reactive cystine residues. These chemical handles facilitate crosslinking or grafting to synthetic polymers, endowing constructs with tailored mechanical strength, porosity and degradation kinetics. In wound care, keratin scaffolds support haemostasis, promote cell adhesion and accelerate tissue repair, while keratin‐based hydrogels and composites have been explored for controlled drug delivery, nerve regeneration and bone tissue engineering. Recent efforts leverage visible‐light crosslinking and rational protein engineering to enhance gelation speed and bioactivity, opening pathways for injectable therapeutics and three‐dimensional bioprinting. The global significance of keratin biomaterials lies in their sustainable sourcing from industrial by‐products and potential to replace non‐degradable materials, aligning with circular‐economy principles. As fundamental understanding of keratin’s structure–function relationships deepens, its translational impact in regenerative medicine, implantable devices and personalised therapies continues to expand.

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Keratin Biomaterials in Biomedical Applications publication trend

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Technical terms

Keratin: A fibrous structural protein rich in cystine, capable of forming intermediate filaments and providing mechanical stability.

Hydrogel: A three‐dimensional polymeric network that can imbibe large volumes of water while maintaining a distinct structure.

Crosslinking: Chemical or physical process of joining polymer chains to enhance mechanical strength and control degradation.

Self-assembly: Spontaneous organisation of molecules into ordered structures through non‐covalent interactions.

Biocompatibility: The ability of a material to perform with an appropriate host response without eliciting toxicity or adverse reactions.

References

1. A Review of Keratin-Based Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications. Materials (2010).
2. Alternative Methods of Preparation of Soluble Keratin from Chicken Feathers. Waste and Biomass Valorization (2016).
3. What Happens during Natural Protein Fibre Dissolution in Ionic Liquids. Materials (2014).
4. Extraction of Keratin from Rabbit Hair by a Deep Eutectic Solvent and Its Characterization. Polymers (2018).
5. Keratin Associations with Synthetic, Biosynthetic and Natural Polymers: An Extensive Review. Polymers (2019).
6. Rational design of water‐soluble, homotypic keratins self‐assembly with enhanced bioactivities. Aggregate (2023).
7. Visible light crosslinkable human hair keratin hydrogels. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine (2018).
8. Hybrid hydrogels based on keratin and alginate for tissue engineering. Journal of Materials Chemistry B (2014).