Tunable Keratin Hydrogels for Controlled Erosion and Growth Factor Delivery.

ABSTRACT: Tunable erosion of polymeric materials is an important aspect of tissue engineering for reasons that include cell infiltration, controlled release of therapeutic agents, and ultimately to tissue healing. In general, the biological response to proteinaceous polymeric hydrogels is favorable (e.g., minimal inflammatory response). However, unlike synthetic polymers, achieving tunable erosion with natural materials is a challenge. Keratins are a class of intermediate filament proteins that can be obtained from several sources, including human hair, and have gained increasing levels of use in tissue engineering applications. An important characteristic of keratin proteins is the presence of a large number of cysteine residues. Two classes of keratins with different chemical properties can be obt

SUBMITTER: Ham TR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5565161 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature