Title:Keratin-Based Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications
Volume: 15
Issue: 5
Author(s): George Dan Mogosanu, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu and Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Drug delivery, keratin, modern systems, nanobiotechnology, pharmaceutical technology, sustainability.
Abstract: The ongoing development of manufacturing technologies and of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers
have significantly contributed to the progress of drug delivery systems. In the last decades, the knowledge on keratins has
significantly increased, regarding their ultrastructure, molecular and cell biology, physiological and pathological roles, as
well as their practical applications in the biomedical field. Produced through sustainable, simple and cheap methods, the
natural, non-toxic keratin is one of the raw biomaterials frequently used in the pharmaceutical technology for different applications.
The purpose of this review is to present the keratins ultrastructure, types, biological distribution, tissue expression
profiles, some of their multiple physiological and pathological roles, as well as their practical applications in drug delivery
and cellular and tissue engineering.
