Reconstituted Keratin Biomaterial with Enhanced Ductility.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Textile Science

Background:

• Protein fibers, like wool, are a renewable resource for biomaterials.
• Keratin biomaterials offer biodegradability and biocompatibility but suffer from poor mechanical properties, particularly low ductility.
• Improving keratin's mechanical durability is crucial for expanding its applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the ductility and mechanical durability of reconstituted keratin films derived from Australian merino wool.
• To investigate the structural and cellular properties of the modified keratin films.

Main Methods:

• Keratin extraction from wool fibers using an established protocol.
• Purification of keratin through dialysis and desalting via multiple diafiltration wash cycles.
• Characterization of the resulting keratin films' mechanical properties, transparency, biodegradability, and semi-crystalline structure.

Main Results:

• A novel, transparent, and biodegradable keratin film was produced.
• The diafiltered keratin film exhibited significantly improved mechanical durability with a Young's modulus of approximately 12.5 MPa and 35% extensibility.
• Unlike previous versions, this new keratin film did not support human cell proliferation, suggesting a structural alteration.

Conclusions:

• Diafiltration processing fundamentally altered the keratin structure, creating a new biomaterial with enhanced mechanical properties.
• The improved ductility and mechanical strength position this keratin film for potential applications in various fields.
• Further research is needed to understand the implications of altered cell interaction for specific applications.