Keratin-based hydrogel for biomedical applications and method of production
US6159496A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 2, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 2, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S530/842
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A keratin hydrogel which can be used as a wound dressing and cell scaffolding. The keratin hydrogel is formed from clean, washed hair by partially oxidizing a significant percentage of disulfide linkages to form cysteic acid groups, while some disulfide linkages remain intact. The partially oxidized hair is treated with a reducing agent, thereby reducing most of the remaining disulfide linkages to cysteine-thioglycollate disulfide and cysteine groups. A soluble fraction of hair is collected and oxidized, such that the reduced sulfur groups are allowed to reform disulfide linkages, thereby binding the keratin together. The cysteic acid groups remain, providing hydrophilic sites within the hydrogel. A higher degree of partial oxidation results in a greater abundance of hydrophilic cysteic acid groups in the hydrogel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.