Abstract
<p><strong>Objective</strong>:<strong> </strong>A novel cross-linked keratin hydrogel was prepared by integrating keratin from chicken feather into an aloe-vera, Chitosan and honey based dressing formulation separately.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>:<strong> </strong>Keratin fibres extracted from chicken feathers are eco-friendly, non-abrasive, biodegradable, insoluble in organic solvents and having good mechanical properties, hydrophobic behaviour, low density and finally cheap. Keratin based hydrogels were prepared with five types of ingredients and studied for their wound healing properties. The analysis of keratin-based hydrogel was done by Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>:<strong> </strong>Keratinocytes containing keratin travel from the wound border to initiate the process of healing. The characteristics of keratin-based hydrogel derived from chicken feather made it an effective wound care therapeutic product. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed the crystallinity index in between 30-50% of the hydrogen.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong>:<strong> </strong>The test for swelling and solubility were carried out on the hydrogen to determine the solid content and water absorbance capacity. Overall, this product is safe to use as an effective wound healing product with appropriate properties. </p>
Highlights
Many therapeutic products were developed by pharmaceutical industries for wound healing and to enhance recovery of major injuries
The hydrogel sheet formulations given in table 1 were prepared with keratin solution and polyethylene glycol, aloe vera gel, chitosan solution and honey were separately studied for their pH, solubility and swelling capacities
The physicochemical properties of the hydrogel were studied by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis systematically
Summary
Many therapeutic products were developed by pharmaceutical industries for wound healing and to enhance recovery of major injuries. Hydrogels are polymeric materials which can absorb and hold a greater amount of water [1]. They are characterised by hydrophobicity and are not dissolved in water [2]. Usage of biomaterials in these products increased rapidly due to the establishment of a matrix or scaffolding system that reproduce the structure and function of the indigenous tissue. There are many applications of keratins in protein-based biomaterials, biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors [3, 4]. This is mainly, because of their ability to work as an extracellular matrix that facilitates cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions. Keratin-based materials have shown promise to revolutionise the biomaterial world due to their intrinsic biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical durability and natural abundance [5]
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