The effect of gold nanoparticles in electrospun-keratin based scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration

In the field of regenerative medicine, a current challenge is the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches for bone regeneration and reconstruction (1). Bone possesses a complex anatomical structure that makes it difficult to replicate finely. The therapeutic approach actually employed is based on bone grafts, which possess several limitations such as risk of infection, chronic pain or bleeding. The present work proposes a strategy based on tissue engineering: the production of scaffolds composed of wool keratin endowed with osteogenic activity. This method represents an eco-friendly solution that promotes the recovery and valorization of biopolymers. Wool keratin is an attractive biomaterial to stimulate bone regeneration due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability and capacity to improve cell adhesion (2). Additionally, the incorporation of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) can improve the scaffolds’ antibacterial properties (3). The aim is to demonstrate that the addition of GNPs to keratin-based solutions produces nanofiber mats endowed with better osteoinductive and antibacterial performances.