- Keratin is an important protein used for wound healing and tissue recovery. In this study, keratin was first extracted from raw materials and chemically modified to obtain stable keratin (m-keratin). The raw and m-keratin were examined by Raman spectroscopy. The molecular weight of the m-keratin was analysed by SDS-PAGE. The m-keratin was then blended with poly(hydroxybutylate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and electrospun to afford nanofibrous mats. These mats were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). From the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) data, it was found that introduction of keratin enhanced cell proliferation. From wound-healing test and histological examination results, it was shown that the composite mats accelerated wound recovery remarkably as compared to the PHBV control. It was concluded that PHBV-keratin may be a good candidate as a wound dressing. |