2.25 Keratin as a biomaterial

Keratin has emerged recently as a new member to the family of naturally occurring biomaterials. Besides the potential to assemble into organized structures, keratins also possess bioactive elements which suggest their suitability to initiate biological interactions. Keratins from both human and animal sources are abundant, readily available and easily harvested. Solubilized keratins can be processed into various formats using established techniques. To date, different forms of keratin templates have been demonstrated to be cell and tissue compatible both in vitro and in vivo. Improved understanding and manipulation of keratin behavior will be critical in realizing their clinical potential.