Keratin sponge: immobilization of lysozyme

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Protein Immobilization
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Wool keratin is a natural protein with potential for biomaterial applications.
• Lysozyme is a model enzyme used to study bioactive substance immobilization and release.
• Controlled release of bioactive substances is crucial for therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use of a porous wool keratin sponge for immobilizing lysozyme.
• To compare the release characteristics of lysozyme immobilized through different chemical linkages (disulfide vs. thioether bonds).
• To evaluate the potential of keratin sponges as biomaterials for controlled bioactive substance delivery.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of a porous wool keratin sponge.
• Immobilization of lysozyme onto the keratin sponge using disulfide and thioether linkages.
• Assay of lysozyme activity over time to determine release kinetics.

Main Results:

• The wool keratin sponge successfully immobilized lysozyme.
• Lysozyme linked via disulfide bonds showed gradual release from the sponge.
• Lysozyme linked via thioether bonds exhibited stable retention on the sponge, maintaining its activity.
• The keratin sponge demonstrated differential release profiles based on the immobilization chemistry.

Conclusions:

• Wool keratin sponges are versatile biomaterials for immobilizing bioactive substances like lysozyme.
• The choice of chemical linkage significantly impacts the release kinetics of immobilized lysozyme.
• Keratin-based biomaterials offer tunable properties for controlled release applications in medicine and biotechnology.