Keratin-Based Hydrogel Development Services
Keratin-based hydrogel is considered an ideal material for biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility, excellent biofunctional properties, and abundance as a renewable resource. Given the great demand for biopolymers and protein-based hydrogels derived from renewable resources, Matexcel is committed to providing custom development services for Keratin-based hydrogels to a wide range of customer groups. Our dedicated team of scientists and advanced technology platform will provide a great boost to your hydrogel research projects.
Features and Advantages of Keratin-Based Hydrogel
Keratin is a fibrous structured, insoluble protein rich in cysteine and can be divided into two types: soft keratin and hard keratin. Compared to soft keratin, hard keratin has a higher mechanical strength because it has a higher concentration of cysteine. Since animals do not ordinarily contain keratinase or other enzymes to degrade keratin, keratin-based hydrogels can withstand enzymatic degradation in vivo for longer than other hydrogels. It is worth mentioning that the thiol functional group of cysteine in keratin contributes to its surface modification, with a wide range of chemical components for hydrogel synthesis, thus facilitating the preparation of keratin hydrogels with tunable properties. In view of its numerous excellent properties, keratin-based hydrogels have a wide impact in the field of tissue engineering, and there is relevant evidence that keratin-based hydrogels have biological functions in tissue repairs such as skin, nerve, and bone.
Fig. 1 Schematic illustration of gelation mechanism by the disulfide shuffling strategy. (Cao Y., et al., 2019)
Applications of Keratin-Based Hydrogel in the Biomedical Field
Due to its biocompatibility, non-immunogenicity, and modifiability, the keratin-based hydrogel is considered to be a stellar material in the field of tissue engineering and biomedical research, with wide application potential.
- Used to deliver growth factors or antimicrobial agents to promote rapid wound healing.
- Used to create 3D cell culture systems to culture fibroblasts in vitro.
- Used for internal hemostasis of liver injury.
- Used in tissue engineering applications for cartilage repair, etc.
Our Services
Matexcel leverages our advanced technology and extensive experience in hydrogel development to help our customers break through all the challenges in keratin-based hydrogel research and development. Our customized keratin-based hydrogel development services include, but are not limited to, the following.
- Keratin-Based Hydrogel Formulation Design Services: We provide customized keratin-based hydrogel formulation design services to adjust the polymer concentration, cross-linking method, reaction temperature, pH and other conditions of the hydrogel according to the different requirements of downstream applications for the mechanical and functional properties of hydrogels.
- Keratin-Based Hydrogel Modification Services: We can develop tailor-made modification solutions to modify and optimize the original properties of keratin-based hydrogels, such as improving their mechanical properties and biological capabilities, according to the requirements of various performance parameters for downstream applications.
- Keratin-Based Hydrogel Analysis and Characterization Services: We provide a full range of analysis and characterization services in the development of keratin-based hydrogels, as well as efficacy testing services for hydrogel samples.
Process of Our Service
Want to Learn More?
As a leading global provider of hydrogel R&D services, Matexcel has accumulated extensive experience in the completion of different projects, during which we have received wide recognition and praise from our customers. We have completed several challenging protein-based hydrogel development services projects. We are proud to be able to provide our valued customers with high quality services to eliminate the difficulties in your projects. If you are interested in our services, please fill out the online inquiry form and tell us more about your project.
References
- Cao Y.; et al. Tunable keratin hydrogel based on disulfide shuffling strategy for drug delivery and tissue engineering. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2019, 544:121-129.
- Davari N.; et al. Protein-Based Hydrogels: Promising Materials for Tissue Engineering. Polymers (Basel). 2022, 14(5):986.