Читать книгу Biomolecules from Natural Sources - Группа авторов - Страница 58

Keratin derived materials have shown potential to transform the world of bio-based materials because of their intrinsic biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical durability, and natural abundance [58]. keratin is the most abundant structural protein in epithelial cells [122] and a most important biopolymer in animals along with collagen. Keratin is a polypeptide consisting of amino acids having intermolecular bonding of cysteine and few intramolecular bonding of polar and non-polar groups. The cysteine residues have thiol groups which produce strong disulfide bonds leading to the cross-linking of the matrix molecule. Keratins can be exited as delicate keratins (such as stratum corneum) generally poorly united and with a lower measure of sulfur and lipids, and hard keratins found in hair [123], nails, paws, noses, feathers [124], plumes, which have a more rational structure and a higher measure of sulfur.