Methacrylated keratin biopolymer with tunable properties for advanced biomedical applications

Akdag Z., Izgordu M. S., Ayran M., Uzuner A., Sancakli A., Arican F., ...Daha Fazla

Materials Letters, cilt.405, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 405
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139713
  • Dergi Adı: Materials Letters
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, INSPEC
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: 2-mercaptoethanol, Extraction, Keratin, Keratin methacrylate (KerMA)
  • Marmara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study focuses on extracting keratin from sheep wool, synthesizing keratin methacrylate (KerMA), and conducting production and characterization tests to explore its potential in tissue engineering. The extracted keratin was methacrylated, with degrees of methacrylation (DM) ranging from 49 % to 63 %, depending on keratin and methacrylic anhidride (MAA) concentrations. Rheological analysis showed shear-thinning behavior, and KerMA demonstrated a solid-like behavior particularly at 20 % w/v concentration. The observed rheological behavior, particularly the shear-thinning characteristics and viscoelastic properties, suggests potential applicability in tissue engineering.