Human hair is a potential biomaterial for biomedical applications. Improper disposal of human hair may pose various adverse effects on the environment and human health. Therefore, proper management of human hair waste is pivotal. Human hair fiber and its derivatives offer various advantages as biomaterials such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity, radical scavenging, electroconductivity, and intrinsic biological activity. Therefore, the favorable characteristics of human hair have rendered its usage in tissue engineering (TE) applications including skin, cardiac, nerve, bone, ocular, and periodontal. Moreover, the strategies by utilizing human hair as a biomaterial for TE applications may reduce the accumulation of human hair. Thus, it also improves human hair waste management while promoting natural, environmental-friendly, and nontoxic materials. Furthermore, promoting sustainable materials production will benefit human health and well-being. Hence, this article reviews and discusses human hair characteristics as sustainable biomaterials and their recent application in TE applications.
Impact Statement
This review article highlights the sustainability aspects of human hair as raw biomaterials and various elements of human hair that could potentially be used in tissue engineering (TE) applications. Furthermore, this article discusses numerous benefits of human hair, highlighting its value as biomaterials in bioscaffold development for TE applications. Moreover, this article reviews the role and effect of human hair in various TE applications, including skin, cardiac, nerve, bone, ocular, and periodontal.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
GuptaA.Human hair “waste” and its utilization: gaps and possibilities. J Waste Manag, 2014, 1, 2014.
2.
AnjumR., SharmaV., SharmaS., and KumarA.Management and exploitation of human hair “Waste” as an additive to building materials: a review. In: ReddyK.R., Agnihotri, Yukselen-AksoyA.K., Y., DubeyB.K., and BansalA., eds. Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure. Cham: Springer, 2021, pp. 137–146.
3.
OEC. Human Hair. Available from: https://oec.world/en/profile/hs92/human-hair?redirect=true Accessed July23, 2021.
4.
BheelN., AwoyeraP., AlukoO., et al.Sustainable composite development: novel use of human hair as fiber in concrete. Case Stud Constr Mater, 13, e00412, 2020.
5.
VermaA., and SinghV.Mechanical, microstructural and thermal characterization of epoxy-based human hair–reinforced composites. J Test Eval, 47, 1193, 2018.
6.
ZhaoJ., GongJ., ZhouC., et al.Utilizing human hair for solid-state flexible fiber-based asymmetric supercapacitors. Appl Surf Sci, 508, 145260, 2020.
7.
ZhaoZ.-Q., XiaoP.-W., ZhaoL., LiuY., and HanB.-H.Human hair-derived nitrogen and sulfur co-doped porous carbon materials for gas adsorption. RSC Adv, 5, 73980, 2015.
8.
IfelebueguA.O., NguyenT.V.A., Ukotije-IkwutP., and MomohZ.Liquid-phase sorption characteristics of human hair as a natural oil spill sorbent. J Environ Chem Eng, 3, 938, 2015.
9.
ÇamS.T., PolatM., and SeyhanN.The use of human hair as biodosimeter. Appl Radiat Isot, 94, 272, 2014.
10.
AhmedM., IslamM.A., AsifM., and HameedB.Human hair-derived high surface area porous carbon material for the adsorption isotherm and kinetics of tetracycline antibiotics. Bioresour Technol, 243, 778, 2017.
11.
XuS., SangL., ZhangY., WangX., and LiX.Biological evaluation of human hair keratin scaffolds for skin wound repair and regeneration. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl, 33, 648, 2013.
12.
HanS., HamT.R., HaqueS., SparksJ.L., and SaulJ.M.Alkylation of human hair keratin for tunable hydrogel erosion and drug delivery in tissue engineering applications. Acta Biomater, 23, 201, 2015.
13.
YuY., YangW., WangB., and MeyersM.A.Structure and mechanical behavior of human hair. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl, 73, 152, 2017.
14.
AdavS.S., SubbaiaihR.S., KerkS.K., et al.Studies on the proteome of human hair-Identification of histones and deamidated keratins. Sci Rep, 8, 1, 2018.
15.
United Nation. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Sustainable Development. Available from: https://sdgs.un.org/goals Accessed August30, 2021.
16.
BuffoliB., RinaldiF., LabancaM., et al.The human hair: from anatomy to physiology. Int J Dermatol, 53, 331, 2014.
17.
LeeH., NohK., LeeS.C., et al.Human hair keratin and its-based biomaterials for biomedical applications. Tissue Eng Regen Med, 11, 255, 2014.
18.
ManafA., JomichanA., and VargheseG.M.Human hair fibre reinforced concrete. Int J Eng Res Technol, 6, 460, 2017.
19.
XiaoQ.-R., SunS., WuK.-H., and HuangN.-P.A human hair-based platform for long-term maintenance of 3D engineered cardiac tissues in vitro. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp, 605, 125398, 2020.
20.
ThilagavathiG., and VijuS. Silk as a suture material. In: Basu, A., ed. Advances in Silk Science and Technology. Elsevier, 2015, pp. 219–232.
21.
LuangjarmekornP., KitidumrongsookP., and HonsawekS.Do-it-yourself microsuture from human hair for basic microsurgical training. J Reconstr Microsurg, 35, 315, 2019.
22.
Al AzrakM., and OgawaR.Dermatologic microsutures using human hair: a useful technique in cutaneous stitching. Eplasty, 17, e24, 2017.
23.
WongS.Y., HashimO.H., and HayashiN.Development of high-performance two-dimensional gel electrophoresis for human hair shaft proteome. PLoS One, 14, e0213947, 2019.
24.
GaoF., LiW., KanJ., et al.Insight into the regulatory function of human hair keratins in wound healing using proteomics. Adv Biosyst, 4, 1900235, 2020.
25.
SinghV., WangS., and NgK.W.Keratin as a biomaterial. In: DucheyneP., ed. Comprehensive Biomaterials II. Oxford: Elsevier, 2017, pp. 542–557.
26.
AgarwalV., PanickerA.G., IndrakumarS., and ChatterjeeK.Comparative study of keratin extraction from human hair. Int J Biol Macromol, 133, 382, 2019.
27.
LaatschC.N., Durbin-JohnsonB.P., RockeD.M., et al.Human hair shaft proteomic profiling: individual differences, site specificity and cuticle analysis. Peer J, 2, e506, 2014.
28.
LuT.-Y., HuangW.-C., ChenY., et al.Effect of varied hair protein fractions on the gel properties of keratin/chitosan hydrogels for the use in tissue engineering. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces, 195, 111258, 2020.
29.
ChuaH.M., ZhaoZ., and NgK.W.Cryogelation of human hair keratins. Macromol Rapid Commun, 41, 2000254, 2020.
30.
YueK., LiuY., ByambaaB., et al.Visible light crosslinkable human hair keratin hydrogels. Bioeng Transl Med, 3, 37, 2018.
31.
ArslanY.E., Sezgin ArslanT., DerkusB., EmregulE., and EmregulK.C.Fabrication of human hair keratin/jellyfish collagen/eggshell-derived hydroxyapatite osteoinductive biocomposite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: from waste to regenerative medicine products. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces, 154, 160, 2017.
32.
BurnettL.R., RahmanyM.B., RichterJ.R., et al.Hemostatic properties and the role of cell receptor recognition in human hair keratin protein hydrogels. Biomaterials, 34, 2632, 2013.
33.
LinC.W., ChenY.K., TangK.C., et al.Keratin scaffolds with human adipose stem cells: physical and biological effects toward wound healing. J Tissue Eng Regen Med, 13, 1044, 2019.
34.
JainA., RaviV., MuhamedJ., ChatterjeeK., and SundaresanN.R.A simplified protocol for culture of murine neonatal cardiomyocytes on nanoscale keratin coated surfaces. Int J Cardiol, 232, 160, 2017.
35.
SolanoF.Melanins: skin pigments and much more types, structural models, biological functions, and formation routes. New J Sci, 2014, 2014.
36.
PanzellaL., GentileG., D'ErricoG., et al.Atypical structural and π-electron features of a melanin polymer that lead to superior free-radical-scavenging properties. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 52, 12684, 2013.
37.
ManchineellaS., ThrivikramanG., KhanumK.K., et al.Pigmented silk nanofibrous composite for skeletal muscle tissue engineering. Adv Healthc Mater, 5, 1222, 2016.
38.
VijM., GroverR., GotherwalV., et al.Bioinspired functionalized melanin nanovariants with a range of properties provide effective color matched photoprotection in skin. Biomacromolecules, 17, 2912, 2016.
39.
PilawaB., ZdybelM., and ChodurekE.Application of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to Examine Free Radicals in Melanin Polymers and Human Melanoma Malignum Cells. London, United. Kingdom: Intechopen Limited, 2017.
40.
EomT., JeonJ., LeeS., et al.Naturally derived melanin nanoparticle composites with high electrical conductivity and biodegradability. Part Part Syst Charact, 36, 1900166, 2019.
41.
YanJ., JiY., ZhangP., et al.Melanin nanoparticles as an endogenous agent for efficient iron overload therapy. J Mater Chem B, 4, 7233, 2016.
42.
HongS., ZhangQ.-L., ZhengD.-W., et al.Enzyme mimicking based on the natural melanin particles from human hair. iScience, 23, 100778, 2020.
43.
SubbaiahR.S., KerkS.K., LianY., et al.Identification of antibacterial components in human hair shafts. Acta Derm Venereol, 98, 708, 2018.
44.
KerkS.K., LaiH.Y., SzeS.K., et al.Bacteria display differential growth and adhesion characteristics on human hair shafts. Front Microbiol, 9, 2145, 2018.
45.
ParkA.J., OkhovatJ.-P., and KimJ.Antimicrobial peptides. In: GaspariA., TyringS., KaplanD., eds. Clinical and Basic Immunodermatology. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 2017, pp. 81–95.
46.
WangZ., MengZ., XueM., et al.Detection of lysozyme in body fluid based on two-dimensional colloidal crystal sensor. Microchem J, 157, 105073, 2020.
47.
MałaczewskaJ., Kaczorek-ŁukowskaE., WójcikR., and SiwickiA.K.Antiviral effects of nisin, lysozyme, lactoferrin and their mixtures against bovine viral diarrhoea virus. BMC Vet Res, 15, 318, 2019.
48.
WongS.Y., LeeC.C., AshrafzadehA., et al.A high-yield two-hour protocol for extraction of human hair shaft proteins. PLoS One, 11, e0164993, 2016.
49.
ShavandiA., CarneA., BekhitA.A., and BekhitA.E.-D.A.An improved method for solubilisation of wool keratin using peracetic acid. J Env Chem Eng, 5, 1977, 2017.
50.
FerozS., MuhammadN., RatnayakeJ., and DiasG.Keratin-based materials for biomedical applications. Bioact Mater, 5, 496, 2020.
51.
Perţa-CrişanS., UrsachiC.Ş., GavrilaşS., OanceaF., and MunteanuF.-D.Closing the loop with keratin-rich fibrous materials. Polymers, 13, 1896, 2021.
52.
NakamuraA., ArimotoM., TakeuchiK., and FujiiT.A rapid extraction procedure of human hair proteins and identification of phosphorylated species. Biol Pharm Bull, 25, 569, 2002.
53.
MohamedJ.M.M., AlqahtaniA., Al FateaseA., et al.Human hair keratin composite scaffold: characterisation and biocompatibility study on NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells. Pharmaceuticals, 14, 781, 2021.
54.
HavryliakV., and MykhaliukV.The comparative analysis of the methods for keratin extraction from sheep wool and human hair. Bìol Tvarin, 22, 9, 2020.
55.
UnnikrishnanG., and RamasamyV.Extraction of keratin from human hair with production of biofertilizer from waste liquid of hair extraction and its efficient application on growth yield of Abelmoschus esculentus L. Asian J Biol Life Sci, 9, 119, 2020.
56.
SinkiewiczI., ŚliwińskaA., StaroszczykH., and KołodziejskaI.Alternative methods of preparation of soluble keratin from chicken feathers. Waste Biomass Valorization, 8, 1043, 2017.
57.
JinX., WangY., YuanJ., and ShenJ.Extraction, characterization, and NO release potential of keratin from human hair. Mater Lett, 175, 188, 2016.
58.
ZhaoZ., MoayZ.K., LaiH.Y., et al.Characterization of anisotropic human hair keratin scaffolds fabricated via directed ice templating. Macromol Biosci, 21, e2000314, 2020.
59.
QinC., GaoH., LiuX., et al.The dissolution of human hair using ionic liquids through COSMO-RS predication and experimental verification. J Mol Liq, 349, 118094, 2022.
60.
ZhangN., LaiH.Y., GautamA., et al.An enzymatic method for harvesting functional melanosomes after keratin extraction: maximizing resource recovery from human hair. J Polym Environ, 30, 1045, 2022.
61.
BarbeckM., JungO., SmeetsR., and KoržinskasT.Biomaterial-Supported Tissue Reconstruction or Regeneration, IntechOpen, United Kingdom, ISBN 10: 1838803777. 2019.
62.
KhanF., and TanakaM.Designing smart biomaterials for tissue engineering. Int J Mol Sci, 19, 17, 2018.
63.
ManoJ.F.Designing biomaterials for tissue engineering based on the deconstruction of the native cellular environment. Mater Lett, 141, 198, 2015.
64.
DolcimascoloA., CalabreseG., ConociS., and ParentiR. Innovative biomaterials for tissue engineering. In: Barbeck, M., et al, eds. Biomaterial-Supported Tissue Reconstruction or Regeneration. IntechOpen, 2019.
65.
FarrisA.L., RindoneA.N., and GraysonW.L.Oxygen delivering biomaterials for tissue engineering. J Mater Chem B, 4, 3422, 2016.
66.
LedfordB.T., SimmonsJ., ChenM., et al.Keratose hydrogels promote vascular smooth muscle differentiation from C-kit-positive human cardiac stem cells. Stem Cells Dev, 26, 888, 2017.
67.
BorrelliM., JoepenN., ReichlS., et al.Keratin films for ocular surface reconstruction: evaluation of biocompatibility in an in-vivo model. Biomaterials, 42, 112, 2015.
68.
GaoF., LiW., DengJ., et al.Recombinant human hair keratin nanoparticles accelerate dermal wound healing. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 11, 18681, 2019.
69.
VeerasubramanianP.K., ThangavelP., KannanR., et al.An investigation of konjac glucomannan-keratin hydrogel scaffold loaded with Avena sativa extracts for diabetic wound healing. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces, 165, 92, 2018.
70.
LinY.-H., HuangK.-W., ChenS.-Y., ChengN.-C., and YuJ.Keratin/chitosan UV-crosslinked composites promote the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose derived stem cells. J Mater Chem B, 5, 4614, 2017.
71.
HartriantiP., LingL., GohL.M.M., et al. Modulating mesenchymal stem cell behavior using human hair keratin-coated surfaces. Stem Cells Int, 2015, 2015.
72.
LiP., WangY., JinX., et al.Catalytic generation of nitric oxide from poly (ɛ-caprolactone)/phosphobetainized keratin mats for a vascular tissue engineering scaffold. Langmuir, 36, 4396, 2020.
73.
WangS., WangZ., FooS.E.M., et al. Culturing fibroblasts in 3D human hair keratin hydrogels. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 7, 5187, 2015.
74.
LiP., WangY., JinX., et al.Fabrication of PCL/keratin composite scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering with catalytic generation of nitric oxide potential. J Mater Chem B, 8, 6092, 2020.
75.
VanhoutteP.M.Nitric oxide: from good to bad. Ann Vasc Dis, 11, 41, 2018.
76.
CinelliM.A., DoH.T., MileyG.P., and SilvermanR.B.Inducible nitric oxide synthase: regulation, structure, and inhibition. Med Res Rev, 40, 158, 2020.
77.
DouJ., WangY., JinX., et al.PCL/sulfonated keratin mats for vascular tissue engineering scaffold with potential of catalytic nitric oxide generation. Mater Sci Eng C, 107, 110246, 2020.
78.
QinyuanZ. Composite controlled release system of nitric oxide for cardiovascular tissue engineering application [PhD thesis]. Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 2013.
79.
PaceL.A., PlateJ.F., SmithT.L., and Van DykeM.E.The effect of human hair keratin hydrogel on early cellular response to sciatic nerve injury in a rat model. Biomaterials, 34, 5907, 2013.
80.
KimJ.W., KimM.J., KiC.S., KimH.J., and ParkY.H.Fabrication of bi-layer scaffold of keratin nanofiber and gelatin-methacrylate hydrogel: implications for skin graft. Int J Biol Macromol, 105, 541, 2017.
81.
ParkM., ShinH.K., KimB.-S., et al.Effect of discarded keratin-based biocomposite hydrogels on the wound healing process in vivo. Mater Sci Eng C, 55, 88, 2015.
82.
KimS.Y., ParkB.J., LeeY., et al.Human hair keratin-based hydrogels as dynamic matrices for facilitating wound healing. J Ind Eng Chem, 73, 142, 2019.
83.
RabbaniS., and ImaniM.Chapter 5 - Stem cells and heart tissue regeneration. In: MahmoudiM., ed. Nanomedicine for Ischemic Cardiomyopathy. United States: Academic Press, 2020, pp. 47–70.
84.
VijayavenkataramanS.Nerve guide conduits for peripheral nerve injury repair: a review on design, materials and fabrication methods. Acta Biomater, 106, 54, 2020.
85.
PanagopoulosG.N., MegaloikonomosP.D., and MavrogenisA.F.The present and future for peripheral nerve regeneration. Orthopedics, 40, e141, 2017.
86.
GaoJ., ZhangL., WeiY., et al.Human hair keratins promote the regeneration of peripheral nerves in a rat sciatic nerve crush model. J Mater Sci Mater Med, 30, 82, 2019.
87.
PaceL.A., PlateJ.F., MannavaS., et al.A human hair keratin hydrogel scaffold enhances median nerve regeneration in nonhuman primates: an electrophysiological and histological study. Tissue Eng Part A, 20, 507, 2014.
88.
de GuzmanR.C., SaulJ.M., EllenburgM.D., et al.Bone regeneration with BMP-2 delivered from keratose scaffolds. Biomaterials, 34, 1644, 2013.
89.
KowalczewskiC.J., TombylnS., WasnickD.C., et al.Reduction of ectopic bone growth in critically-sized rat mandible defects by delivery of rhBMP-2 from kerateine biomaterials. Biomaterials, 35, 3220, 2014.
90.
BorrelliM., ReichlS., FengY., et al.In vitro characterization and ex vivo surgical evaluation of human hair keratin films in ocular surface reconstruction after sterilization processing. J Mater Sci Mater Med, 24, 221, 2013.
91.
BartoldP.M., and Van DykeT.E.An appraisal of the role of specific bacteria in the initial pathogenesis of periodontitis. J Clin Peridontol, 46, 6, 2019.
92.
LeeH., HwangY.-S., LeeH.-S., et al.Human hair keratin-based biofilm for potent application to periodontal tissue regeneration. Macromol Res, 23, 300, 2015.
93.
ChenZ., YeS.-Y., YangY., and LiZ.-Y.A review on charred traditional Chinese herbs: carbonization to yield a haemostatic effect. Pharm Biol, 57, 498, 2019.
94.
VitusV., IbrahimF., and Wan Kamarul ZamanW.S.Modelling of stem cells microenvironment using carbon-based scaffold for tissue engineering application: a review. Polymers, 13, 4058, 2021.
95.
ZhuY., QiuY., and LiaoL.Evaluation of hemostatic effects of carbonized hair-loaded poly (l-lactic) acid nanofabrics. J Nanosci Nanotechnol, 15, 4193, 2015.
96.
ZhangY., WangS., LuF., et al.The neuroprotective effect of pretreatment with carbon dots from Crinis Carbonisatus (carbonized human hair) against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. J Nanobiotechnol, 19, 257, 2021.
97.
ZhangJ.-H., NiuA., LiJ., et al.In vivo characterization of hair and skin derived carbon quantum dots with high quantum yield as long-term bioprobes in zebrafish. Sci Rep, 6, 37860, 2016.
98.
SharmaV., TiwariP., and MobinS.M.Sustainable carbon-dots: recent advances in green carbon dots for sensing and bioimaging. J Mater Chem B, 5, 8904, 2017.
99.
SahasrabudheA., KapriS., and BhattacharyyaS.Graphitic porous carbon derived from human hair as ‘green’ counter electrode in quantum dot sensitized solar cells. Carbon, 107, 395, 2016.
100.
GuoT., LiW., WangJ., et al.Recombinant human hair keratin proteins for halting bleeding. Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol, 46(sup2), 456, 2018.
101.
CaoY., YaoY., LiY., et al.Tunable keratin hydrogel based on disulfide shuffling strategy for drug delivery and tissue engineering. J Colloid Interface Sci, 544, 121, 2019.
102.
SilvaO.A., PelláM.G., PopatK.C., et al.Rod-shaped keratin nanoparticles extracted from human hair by acid hydrolysis as photothermally triggered berberine delivery system. Adv Powder Technol, 33, 103353, 2022.
103.
BardaweelS.K., GulM., AlzweiriM., et al.Reactive oxygen species: the dual role in physiological and pathological conditions of the human body. Eurasian J Med, 50, 193, 2018.
104.
NuszkiewiczJ., WoźniakA., and Szewczyk-GolecK.Ionizing radiation as a source of oxidative stress: the protective role of melatonin and vitamin D. Int J Mol Sci, 21, 5804, 2020.
105.
XianD., LaiR., SongJ., XiongX., and ZhongJ.Emerging perspective: role of increased ROS and redox imbalance in skin carcinogenesis. Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2019, 8127362, 2019.
106.
MünzelT.and Daiber, A. Environmental stressors and their impact on health and disease with focus on oxidative stress. Antioxid Redox Signal, 28, 735, 2018.
107.
Sharifi-RadM., Anil KumarN.V., ZuccaP., et al.Lifestyle, oxidative stress, and antioxidants: back and forth in the pathophysiology of chronic diseases. Front Physiol, 11, 694, 2020.
108.
PizzinoG., IrreraN., CucinottaM., et al.Oxidative stress: harms and benefits for human health. Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2017, 2017.
109.
ReczekC.R.and Chandel, N.S. ROS promotes cancer cell survival through calcium signaling. Cancer Cell, 33, 949, 2018.
110.
SabbatinoF., ContiV., LiguoriL., et al.Molecules and mechanisms to overcome oxidative stress inducing cardiovascular disease in cancer patients. Life, 11, 105, 2021.
111.
WangZ., LiS., CaoY., et al.Oxidative stress and carbonyl lesions in ulcerative colitis and associated colorectal cancer. Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2016, 2016.
112.
TianT., WangZ., and ZhangJ.Pathomechanisms of oxidative stress in inflammatory bowel disease and potential antioxidant therapies. Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2017, 2017.
113.
NissankaN., and MoraesC.T.Mitochondrial DNA damage and reactive oxygen species in neurodegenerative disease. FEBS Lett, 592, 728, 2018.
114.
LaiH.Y., WangS., SinghV., NguyenL.T.H., and NgK.W.Evaluating the antioxidant effects of human hair protein extracts. J Biomater Sci Polym Ed, 29, 1081, 2018.
115.
YiZ., CuiX., ChenG., et al.Biocompatible, antioxidant nanoparticles prepared from natural renewable tea polyphenols and human hair keratins for cell protection and anti-inflammation. ACS Biomater Sci Eng, 7, 1046, 2021.
116.
OkoroO.V., JafariH., HobbiP., et al.Enhanced keratin extraction from wool waste using a deep eutectic solvent. Chem, Pap, 1, 2022.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
