Preparation of PEG‐modified wool keratin/sodium alginate porous scaffolds with elasticity recovery and good biocompatibility

Abstract

To improve mechanical properties of keratin (KR) porous scaffolds, we prepared a PEGylated keratin through thiol-ene click reaction. Several porous scaffolds were prepared by blending PEGylated keratin with sodium alginate (SA). The surface morphology, mechanical properties, and porosity of scaffolds were detailed studied at different KR/SA proportions. The results showed the content of SA had an effect on pore formation and mechanical properties. When the mass ratio of KR to SA was 2:1, the stress of yield point of the keratin porous scaffold reached 1.24 MPa, and also showed good deformation recovery ability. The PEGylated keratin porous scaffold had a high porosity and great cytocompatibility. Its' porosity is up to 81.7% and the cell viability is about 117.78%. This allows it to absorb the simulated plasma quickly (9.20 ± 0.37 g/g). In addition, the structural stability and acid-base stability of the keratin porous scaffold were also improved after PEGylation. Overall, the PEGylated keratin porous scaffold will be promising in tissue materials due to its great physical, chemical, and biological properties.

Study on Keratin/PEGDA Composite Hydrogel with the Addition of Varied Hair Protein Fractions

“…For example, keratins have been combined with PEGDA to improve the hydrogels’ mechanical properties, biological activity, and printing abilities. Moreover, the photo-cross-linking mechanism of keratin-PEGDA composite renders it ideal for fabricating tissues with various architectural designs, which can be applied to oral tissue regeneration, wound dressings, drug delivery, or hemostatic materials. − …”

Second-Order Derivation Fourier Transform Infrared Spectral Analysis of Regenerated Wool Keratin Structural Changes

“…Wool is composed of 95 wt% keratin content, which has good biocompatibility properties. [1][2][3][4] Wool is an important textile material with interesting cloth-related performance, including good elasticity, strong hygroscopicity, and excellent warmth. Furthermore, wool dyed with natural dyes has a higher value because the wearability is improved.…”