Human Hair Protein-Based Hydrogels: From Design to Fabrication and Characterization

Tutar R., Köken S. Y., Tuncaboylu D. C., Çelebi Saltık B.

19th Asian Chemical Congress, İstanbul, Türkiye, 9 - 14 Temmuz 2023, ss.213, (Özet Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.213
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa Adresli: Evet

Özet

PURPOSE: Naturally derived biomaterial based hydrogels have been frequently used for tissue engineering applications with their biological functions, structural useage as support scaffolds, adjustable mechanical properties. In this study, a new generation of injectable, biodegradable and biocompatible human hair keratin-additive hydrogels were developed with strong cross-linking under visible light. In addition, it was aimed to achieve rapid gelation with active thiol groups in the keratin structure.

METHOD: In this work, keratin and modified gelatin (GelMA) as precursors were used to in situ synthesize porous hydrogels via chemical cross-linking. A strategy was designed to fabricate keratin and GelMA based hybrid hydrogels (GelTin). GelTin hydrogels were prepared by using 5% GelMA with different amount of reduced human hair keratin. Then, GelTin hydrogels were cured by using visible light to make them covalently cross- linking. Physical, mechanical and biological properties of the prepared GelTin hydrogels were characterized.

FINDINGS: GelTin hydrogels exhibited significant improved material structural properties such as swelling behavior, poros- ity and cell viability properties. Preliminary results showed that the increased keratin content in the GelTin hydrogels improved the porosity and water content in accordance with the porous microarchitecture of the prepared hydrogels. In addition, cross- linked GelTin hydrogels exhibited stable, interconnected, honeycomblike, porous morphology.

CONCLUSIONS: The good mechanical, physical properties and biocompatibility of the prepared hybrid hydrogels make them a promising material platform for tissue engineering ap- plications such as tissue scaffolding, soft tissue engineering and many bioadhesive applications.

Acknowledgement: This study was financially supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Projects Funding, TUBITAK-1001\121M509.

Keywords: Polymers, Biomaterials, Human Hair Keratin, Hydrogels