Poly(ε-caprolactone)/keratin-based composite nanofibers for biomedical applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Keratin, a protein from human hair, offers unique properties for biomaterials.
• Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a synthetic polymer widely used in biomedical applications.
• Composite nanofibers combine the advantages of natural and synthetic materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize keratin-based composite nanofibers using electrospinning.
• To evaluate the physicochemical properties and cellular compatibility of these nanofibers for tissue engineering.
• To explore the potential of these novel materials in regenerative medicine.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning of aqueous soluble keratin (from human hair) blended with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) at various ratios.
• Assessment of nanofibrous membrane morphology, mechanical strength, crystallinity, chemical structure, and aqueous stability.
• Evaluation of cellular compatibility using cell viability assays and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with 3T3 cells.

Main Results:

• Uniform nanofibrous membranes were fabricated with PCL/keratin ratios from 100/00 to 70/30.
• The composite nanofibers exhibited suitable mechanical properties and maintained structural integrity in buffered solutions.
• SEM imaging and cell viability assays confirmed that the nanofibrous membranes supported 3T3 cell viability.

Conclusions:

• Blended nanofibers from protein (keratin) and synthetic polymers (PCL) represent an advancement in composite material development.
• These novel keratin-based nanofibers possess desirable properties for biomedical applications, particularly in tissue engineering.
• The fabricated materials offer new possibilities for regenerative medicine strategies.