Original authors: Suyoung Lee, Mark Van Dyke, Minkyu Kim

Affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and the BIOS Institute, University of Arizona, USA

Research Topic: Centered on recombinant keratin, this work encompasses its synthesis methods, hierarchical assembly mechanisms—covering the assembly process from the molecular to the macroscopic scale—material properties, and potential applications across various fields, such as biomedicine and materials engineering.

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Article Abstract 

Keratin has attracted widespread attention due to its excellent mechanical properties, thermal stability, and bioactive functions such as promoting hemostasis and wound healing. Traditionally, keratin is extracted from natural sources like human hair, wool, and feathers and processed into biomaterials—including thin films, hydrogels, and nanoparticles—primarily for biomedical applications. However, conventional extraction methods often yield heterogeneous keratin mixtures containing residual impurities and structural damage resulting from harsh purification conditions, thereby complicating the investigation of how specific keratins and their hierarchical assemblies contribute to the desired material properties. 

Recombinant keratin technology addresses the aforementioned challenges by enabling the synthesis of a single keratin type with high purity and batch-to-batch consistency. These advances have facilitated in-depth investigations into how keratin, across different assembly stages—from molecular components and heterodimers to intermediate filaments and their networks—impacts material properties. Moreover, this technology permits precise genetic modifications, holding promise for the development of keratin variants with tailored characteristics for specific applications. 

Despite its clear advantages, translating recombinant keratin into practical applications still requires overcoming key manufacturing challenges, such as optimizing large-scale production and enhancing purification efficiency. This review summarizes the current state of research on recombinant keratin, highlighting recent technological advances and exploring its applications in contemporary biomaterials. Although its current use remains relatively limited compared to that of extracted keratin, recombinant keratin holds great promise for advanced materials design and other non‑medical fields.

Recombinant keratin technology enables researchers to precisely control the type and combination of keratins, thereby developing biomaterials with tailored properties. These materials have been explored in various well-established forms—such as hydrogels, nanofibers, and nanoparticles—and have demonstrated promising applications in hemostasis, wound healing, antibacterial activity, and tissue regeneration.

I. Applications of Recombinant Keratin in Engineered Biomaterials 

Compared with naturally derived keratin, which is already widely used, recombinant keratin—owing to its high purity, superior controllability, and excellent designability—is better suited for constructing functionalized engineered biomaterials. At present, its applications are still in the early exploratory stage, primarily focusing on the following three categories of materials:

II. Applications of Recombinant Keratin in Biomedicine 

The biocompatibility and designability of recombinant keratin have led to its most extensive applications in the biomedical field, primarily focusing on hemostasis and wound healing, implant coatings, and antibacterial strategies.

III. Prospects for Multi‑Sectoral Applications of Recombinant Keratin 

At present, research on recombinant keratin is primarily focused on the biomedical field; its potential in areas such as functional materials and structural biomimetics also warrants attention. Specific prospects are outlined below:

IV. Summary and Outlook 

Recombinant keratin technology is opening up entirely new opportunities in materials science and biomedicine. By integrating biotechnology, computational design, and engineered manufacturing, it holds the promise of developing a new generation of high‑performance, sustainable, and multifunctional keratin‑based materials, thereby advancing fields such as regenerative medicine, bioengineering, smart materials, and green manufacturing. The key to future progress lies in fostering interdisciplinary collaborative innovation, scaling up engineering‑scale production capabilities, and bridging the gap between clinical applications and industrial translation. As a naturally abundant protein with exceptional mechanical resilience, keratin is steadily evolving from an “overlooked structural protein” into a “star player” among multifunctional biomaterials.

Disclaimer

The copyright of the foregoing content belongs to the original author. The views expressed herein are for informational and discussion purposes only and shall not be used for commercial purposes. Any opinions presented do not constitute medical treatment recommendations nor investment advice.