合成聚合物的组合,如聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)(PNIPAM),天然生物分子,如角蛋白,在生物医学领域显示出潜力,因为这些杂种将PNIPAM的热响应特性与角蛋白的生物活性特性相结合。这种协同作用旨在生产能够对环境刺激做出反应,同时保持生物相容性和功能性的杂种,使它们适用于各种医疗和生物技术用途。在这项研究中,我们在纺织工业中利用从羊毛废料中提取的角蛋白,通过硫解提取,用PNIPAM微凝胶合成杂化物。利用两种不同的方法-NIPAM与角蛋白(HYB-P)的聚合以及将预制的PNIPAM微凝胶与角蛋白(HYB-M)混合-导致角蛋白含量为20%和25%的杂种,分别。动态光散射(DLS)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)分析表明,HYB-P形成了胶体系统,其粒径约为110nm,HYB-M为518nm。两种系统中都存在角蛋白,20%和25%,分别,通过光谱(FTIR和NMR)和元素分析证实。在HYB-P和HYB-M之间观察到明显的结构差异,表明前者的接枝共聚物构型和后者的络合。此外,这些杂种表现出类似于PNIPAM微凝胶的温度响应性和pH响应性,强调了它们在各种生物医学应用中的潜力。
Combinations of synthetic polymers, such as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), with natural biomolecules, such as
keratin, show potential in the field of biomedicine, since these hybrids merge the thermoresponsive properties of PNIPAM with the bioactive characteristics of
keratin. This synergy aims to produce hybrids that can respond to environmental stimuli while maintaining biocompatibility and functionality, making them suitable for various medical and biotechnological uses. In this study, we exploit keratin derived from wool waste in the textile industry, extracted via sulfitolysis, to synthesize hybrids with PNIPAM microgel. Utilizing two distinct methods-polymerization of NIPAM with
keratin (HYB-P) and mixing preformed PNIPAM microgels with
keratin (HYB-M)-resulted in hybrids with 20% and 25%
keratin content, respectively. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analyses indicated the formation of colloidal systems with particle sizes of around 110 nm for HYB-P and 518 nm for HYB-M. The presence of
keratin in both systems, 20% and 25%, respectively, was confirmed by spectroscopic (FTIR and NMR) and elemental analyses. Distinct structural differences were observed between HYB-P and HYB-M, suggesting a graft copolymer configuration for the former hybrid and a complexation for the latter one. Furthermore, these hybrids demonstrated temperature responsiveness akin to PNIPAM microgels and pH responsiveness, underscoring their potential for diverse biomedical applications.