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

Institution: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and the BIOS Institute at the University of Arizona in the United States

Research Topic: Focused on recombinant keratin, encompassing its synthesis methods, hierarchical assembly mechanisms (i.e., the assembly process from the molecular to the macroscopic scale), material properties, and application scenarios across various fields (such as biomedicine and materials engineering), with particular emphasis on its potential value in these domains.

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Article Abstract

Keratin has garnered extensive attention due to its outstanding 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 such as thin films, hydrogels, and nanoparticles, primarily for biomedical applications. However, conventional extraction methods often result in highly heterogeneous keratin mixtures that contain residual impurities and structural damage caused by stringent purification conditions, thereby complicating the investigation of how specific keratins and their hierarchical assemblies contribute to the desired material properties.

Recombinant keratin technology effectively 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—influences material properties. Moreover, this technology permits precise genetic engineering, 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, highlights recent technological advances, and explores its applications in contemporary biomaterials. Although its current applications remain more limited than those of naturally extracted keratin, recombinant keratin holds great promise for advanced materials design and other non-medical fields in the future.

Recombinant keratin technology enables researchers to precisely control the types and combinations of keratins, thereby facilitating the development of biomaterials with tailored properties. These materials have been explored in various well-established forms, including hydrogels, nanofibers, and nanoparticles, and have demonstrated promising potential in applications such as hemostasis, wound healing, antimicrobial activity, and tissue regeneration.

I. Applications of Recombinant Keratin in Engineered Biomaterials

Compared with naturally extracted keratin, which is already widely used, recombinant keratin—due to its high purity, excellent controllability, and superior designability—is more suitable for constructing functionalized engineered biomaterials. Currently, its applications are still in the early exploratory stage and are mainly concentrated in 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 in hemostasis and wound healing, implant coatings, and antimicrobial strategies.

III. Prospects for Multi-Disciplinary Applications of Recombinant Keratin

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

IV. Summary and Outlook

Recombinant keratin technology is ushering in new opportunities for 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 regenerative medicine, bioengineering, smart materials, and green manufacturing. The key to future progress lies in fostering cross-disciplinary collaborative innovation, scaling up engineering-scale production capabilities, and establishing seamless pathways for clinical translation and industrial application. As a naturally abundant protein with exceptional mechanical resilience, keratin is evolving from a “neglected 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 are not intended for commercial use. The opinions presented do not constitute medical treatment recommendations or investment advice.