Textile and Other Industrial Applications of Keratin Biomaterial

Keratin is a fibrous protein available in hair, nails, horn, hoofs, wool, hair, feathers and epithelial cells in the outermost layers of skin. It is subdivided into alpha-keratins and beta-keratins, based on the structure of polypeptide chains. Keratin can be extracted by several methods viz., chemical hydrolysis, enzymatic and microbial treatment, dissolution in ionic liquids, microwave process, steam explosion, and thermal hydrolysis. It is a natural protein polymeric biomaterial and has been used in the fields of textile fibre, textile finishing & auxiliaries, film, hydrogel, sponges and scaffolds, and cosmetics. The underutilized coarser and waste wool, and other hair fibres can be used for extraction of keratin, while addressing the sustainable management of such bio-wastes. Keratin biomaterial has many advantages over the conventional biomolecules, namely unique chemistry due to its high sulphur content, notable biocompatibility, propensity for self-assembly, and intrinsic cellular recognition. Keratin polymer-based biofibres are strong and elastic, and have requisite moisture wicking properties, making them a new class of material for textile application. Substrates developed using keratin and blends show hypoallergenic and antimicrobial properties, making them a preferred a choice for clothing and other applications. Properties of paper produced from the feather fibre and wood pulp were compared with the hand-sheets, made of 100% wood pulp. This paper reviews the characteristic of keratin biomaterial, its extraction process and different end applications.

Value-added applications of keratin.

Different sources of keratin.

Keratin as a fibre and textile auxiliaries.

Development of keratin-based bio-film and hydrogel.