Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hair keratin promotes wound healing in rats with combined radiation-wound injury

  • Tissue Engineering Constructs and Cell Substrates
  • Original Research
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Keratins derived from human hair have been suggested to be particularly effective in general surgical wound healing. However, the healing of a combined radiation-wound injury is a multifaceted regenerative process. Here, hydrogels fabricated with human hair keratins were used to test the wound healing effects on rats suffering from combined radiation-wound injuries. Briefly, the keratin extracts were verified by dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis and amino acid analysis, and the keratin hydrogels were then characterized by morphological observation, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis and rheology analyses. The results of the cell viability assay indicated that the keratin hydrogels could enhance cell growth after radiation exposure. Furthermore, keratin hydrogels could accelerate wound repair and improve the survival rate in vivo. The results demonstrate that keratin hydrogels possess a strong ability to accelerate the repair of a combined radiation-wound injury, which opens up new tissue regeneration applications for keratins.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ponemone V, Fayad R, Gove ME, Pini M, Fantuzzi G. Effect of adiponectin deficiency on intestinal damage and hematopoietic responses of mice exposed to gamma radiation. Mutat Res. 2010;690:102–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Rieger KA, Birch NP, Schiffman JD. Designing electrospun nanofiber mats to promote wound healing—a review. J Mater Chem B. 2013;1:4531–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hu SC-S, Lan C-CE. High-glucose environment disturbs the physiologic functions of keratinocytes: focusing on diabetic wound healing. J Dermatol Sci. 2016;84:121–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Werner S, Grose R. Regulation of wound healing by growth factors and cytokines. Physiol Rev. 2003;83:835–70.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Gu Q, Wang D, Cui C, Gao Y, Xia G, Cui X. Effects of radiation on wound healing. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 1998;17:117–23.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Song S, Cheng T. The effect of systemic and local irradiation on wound macrophages and the repair promoting action of phenytoin sodium. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 1997;77:54–7.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Jagetia GC, Rajanikant G, Rao KM. Ascorbic acid increases healing of excision wounds of mice whole body exposed to different doses of γ-radiation. Burns. 2007;33:484–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Wang J, Hao S, Luo T, Cheng Z, Li W, Gao F, et al. Feather keratin hydrogel for wound repair: preparation, healing effect and biocompatibility evaluation. Colloids Surf B-Biointerfaces. 2017;149:341–50.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Luo T, Hao S, Chen X, Wang J, Yang Q, Wang Y, et al. Development and assessment of kerateine nanoparticles for use as a hemostatic agent. Mater Sci Eng C-Mater Biol Appl. 2016;63:352–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Gao F, Li W, Deng J, Kan J, Guo T, Wang B, et al. Recombinant human hair keratin nanoparticles accelerate dermal wound healing. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2019;11:18681–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Li W, Gao F, Kan J, Deng J, Wang B, Hao S. Synthesis and fabrication of a keratin-conjugated insulin hydrogel for the enhancement of wound healing. Colloids Surf B: Biointerfaces. 2019;175:436–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Guo T, Yang X, Deng J, Zhu L, Wang B, Hao S. Keratin nanoparticles-coating electrospun PVA nanofibers for potential neural tissue applications. J Mater Sci: Mater Med. 2019;30:9.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Sierpinski P, Garrett J, Ma J, Apel P, Klorig D, Smith T, et al. The use of keratin biomaterials derived from human hair for the promotion of rapid regeneration of peripheral nerves. Biomaterials. 2008;29:118–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Saravanan S, Sameera D, Moorthi A, Selvamurugan N. Chitosan scaffolds containing chicken feather keratin nanoparticles for bone tissue engineering. Int J Biol Macromol. 2013;62:481–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Burnett LR, Rahmany MB, Richter JR, Aboushwareb TA, Eberli D, Ward CL, et al. Hemostatic properties and the role of cell receptor recognition in human hair keratin protein hydrogels. Biomaterials. 2013;34:2632–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Rahmany MB, Hantgan RR, Mark VD. A mechanistic investigation of the effect of keratin-based hemostatic agents on coagulation. Biomaterials. 2013;34:2492–500.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Xu S, Sang L, Zhang Y, Wang X, Li X. Biological evaluation of human hair keratin scaffolds for skin wound repair and regeneration. Mater Sci Eng: C. 2013;33:648–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Poranki D, Whitener W, Howse S, Mesen T, Howse E, Burnell J, et al. Evaluation of skin regeneration after burns in vivo and rescue of cells after thermal stress in vitro following treatment with a keratin biomaterial. J Biomater Appl. 2014;29:26–35.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Wang S, Wang Z, Foo SEM, Tan NS, Yuan Y, Lin W, et al. Culturing fibroblasts in 3D human hair keratin hydrogels. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2015;7:5187–98.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Anumolu SS, Menjoge AR, Deshmukh M, Gerecke D, Stein S, Laskin J, et al. Doxycycline hydrogels with reversible disulfide crosslinks for dermal wound healing of mustard injuries. Biomaterials. 2011;32:1204–17.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Luo T, Guo T, Yang Q, Hao S, Wang J, Cheng Z, et al. In situ hydrogels enhancing postoperative functional recovery by reducing iron overload after intracerebral haemorrhage. Int J Pharm. 2017;534:179–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Shi C-M, Qu J-F, Cheng T-M. Effects of the nerve growth factor on the survival and wound healing in mice with combined radiation and wound injury. J Radiat Res. 2003;44:223–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Jagetia GC, Rajanikant GK. Acceleration of wound repair by curcumin in the excision wound of mice exposed to different doses of fractionated γ radiation. Int Wound J. 2012;9:76–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Cui X, Xu S, Su W, Sun Z, Yi Z, Ma X, et al. Freeze–thaw cycles for biocompatible, mechanically robust scaffolds of human hair keratins. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater. 2019;107:1452–61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. He Y, Qu Q, Luo T, Gong Y, Hou Z, Deng J, et al. Human hair keratin hydrogels alleviate rebleeding after intracerebral hemorrhage in a rat model. ACS Biomater Sci Eng. 2019;5:1113–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Ran X, Cheng T, Shi C, Xu H, Qu J, Yan G, et al. The effects of total-body irradiation on the survival and skin wound healing of rats with combined radiation-wound injury. J Trauma. 2004;57:1087–1093.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Shi C, Cheng T, Su Y, Mai Y, Qu J, Lou S, et al. Transplantation of dermal multipotent cells promotes survival and wound healing in rats with combined radiation and wound injury. Radiat Res. 2004;162:56–63.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial assistance provided by the Research Fund Program of Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment (CMIT201801), the Visiting Scholar Foundation of the Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education (CQKLBST-2017-008), and Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (cstc2019jcyj-msxmX0692).

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Xiaoliang Chen, Dongliang Zhai

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiological Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical Universtiy, 400016, Chongqing, China

    Xiaoliang Chen & Zhiping Peng

  2. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, 400030, Chongqing, China

    Dongliang Zhai & Jia Song

  3. Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, 400030, Chongqing, China

    Bochu Wang & Shilei Hao

Authors
  1. Xiaoliang Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dongliang Zhai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bochu Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shilei Hao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jia Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zhiping Peng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Shilei Hao, Jia Song or Zhiping Peng.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, X., Zhai, D., Wang, B. et al. Hair keratin promotes wound healing in rats with combined radiation-wound injury. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 31, 28 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-020-06365-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-020-06365-x

Search

Navigation