Wool Keratin-Based Nanofibres-In Vitro Validation

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Protein-based nanofibres are crucial in biomedical applications for supporting cell growth.
• Wool keratin offers a sustainable and biocompatible source for nanofibre development.
• Optimizing nanofibre properties is essential for effective in vitro cell interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the cell viability and proliferation on wool keratin-based nanofibres.
• To investigate the impact of different solvents on nanofibre morphology and performance.
• To assess the influence of polyethylene oxide blending on keratin nanofibres for cell interactions.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning of wool keratin using formic acid, hexafluoroisopropanol, and water as solvents.
• Preparation of blended aqueous solutions of keratin and polyethylene oxide.
• Morphological characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
• Secondary structure analysis using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
• In vitro cell proliferation and interaction assays.

Main Results:

• Formic acid yielded nanofibres with superior morphology.
• Hexafluoroisopropanol-derived fibres demonstrated enhanced cell proliferation after 14 days.
• Polyethylene oxide in keratin nanofibres altered membrane wettability and keratin-water interactions over time.
• SEM and FTIR analyses confirmed nanofibre structure and secondary structure changes.

Conclusions:

• Wool keratin nanofibres are viable candidates for biomedical applications.
• Solvent choice significantly impacts nanofibre morphology and subsequent cell proliferation.
• Polyethylene oxide can modulate keratin nanofibre properties for controlled in vitro cell interactions.