Keratin nanofibers in tissue engineering: bridging nature and innovation
Keshaw Ram Aadil, Khushboo Bhange, Nitesh Kumar, Gita Mishra
Abstract
Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are multidisciplinary disciplines that use technical and biological principles to create workable replacements for human tissues and organ function. Keratin, a protein found in materials like wool, feathers, and hooves, holds great promise for biomedical applications due to its unique properties. It is biocompatible, providing a suitable matrix for cell growth and tissue repair. Keratin's cysteine-rich composition facilitates cell attachment and growth, supporting the regeneration of damaged tissue. The method of electrospinning is a flexible and effective way for producing nanofibers. To generate fibers with a high surface area to volume ratio, this technique applies an electric field to draw charged threads of polymer melts or solutions. Further, the extraction, purification, and characterization of keratin proteins from hair and wool fibers have yielded significant advances over the past century, resulting in the development of keratin-based biomaterials platforms. Researchers have successfully fabricated keratin-based nanofiber scaffolds using electrospinning techniques, mimicking the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) and promoting cell infiltration and adhesion. These scaffolds have been investigated for different tissue engineering, with in vitro studies showing successful growth of skin cells on them, making them promising for wound healing and tissue repair. Keratin is a suitable biomaterial for scaffolds utilized in tissue engineering because of its biocompatibility, biodegradability, latent biological activity, and cellular binding designs. Understanding keratin nanofiber scaffolds' biocompatibility, biodegradation, stability in vitro and in vivo, and mechanism of action is essential for using them in more sophisticated applications, including clinical research. Additional research and development, in addition to advancements in related technologies, ought to create even more prospects for this versatile and fascinating biomaterial.