Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Synthesis of Keratin-based Nanofiber for Biomedical Engineering
Published on: February 7, 2016
Hair--the most sophisticated biological composite material
Crisan Popescu1, Hartwig Höcker
1DWI an der RWTH Aachen e.V., Pauwelsstrasse 8, D-52074 Aachen, Germany. popescu@dwi.rwth-aachen.de
Abstract:
Hair is a proteinaceous fibre with a strongly hierarchical organization of subunits, from the alpha-keratin chains, via intermediate filaments, to the fibre. The chemistry of the different morphological compartments results in exciting physical properties, including the hydrophilic/hydrophobic paradox. The present tutorial review will be of interest for protein- as well as polymer chemists, who want to learn from nature, and also for biochemists interested in the cytoskeleton and particularly in intermediate filaments; it also presents a scientific basis for hair cosmetics.
Related Concept Videos
Hair Cells
Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair and Hair Follicles
Hair is a keratinous filament growing out of the epidermis. It is primarily made of dead, keratinized cells. Hair strands originate at the epidermal penetration called the hair follicle. The hair shaft is the part...
Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair Growth and Types
Composite Bodies
Composite bodies have widespread applications in mechanical engineering, from automobiles to aircraft to rockets. For example, an automobile wheel comprises...

