KERATIN BASED MATERIALS FOR SUSTAINABLE NANOBIOCOMPOSITE FOR MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS AND METHOD OF ITS PROCESSING

摘要

SUSTAINABLE BIOPRODUCTS FROM KERATIN BASED MATERIALS FOR MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS AND METHOD OF THEIR PROCESSING Abstract: The present invention relates to the method of processing of keratin based materials such as chicken feather, ovine wool and bovine hoof, scales, hair, bones etc for their potential biomedical applications. It specifically pertains to the converting waste into value added bioproducts using keratin based wastes from renewable sources of livestock and poultry industry. Keratin based wastes were converted into sustainable bioproducts such as keratin biofibers, nanoKeratin, nanobiocomposites/hybrid composite, nanobioscaffold-K, bioinsoles with an addition of bioactive molecules with microbial property such as chitosan, eco-friendly synthesized nanokeratin and silver nanoparticles/nHA when added to biocomposites. In addition, keratin based products were used to reinforce with natural biopolymers such as Collogen/PLA/PCL/PLGA/Alginate/Gelatin to produce clinically sized, anatomically shaped, viable shaped human bone grafts and were used as affordable bioink for 3D bioprinting of artificial organs in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Scanning electron micrographs of fractured surfaces of biocomposite showed good dispersion of matrix by short fibres when compared to long fibres. The nanoKeratin formulations synthesized from keratin based powder by dissolving in eco-friendly solvent, beta-methyl imidiazole chloride (BMImCl) which has antibacterial property. The good physical properties such as light-weight, semi-rigidity, flexibility, durability and coupled with anti odour property suggest that feather-starch-AgNP composite may potentially have a potential role in replacing conventional synthetic materials. Preparation of keratin non-woven mat was carried out with aim of producing potential insulating film which can be used in thermo flasks, freezers and vaccine carriers using indigenous method. Biofibres were used to create a greener circuit board made from a composite of keratin from chicken feathers (30%) and resin (70%) from soybean oil resin. The mosquito larvicidal preparations such as floats granules, featherBioLet, BioCompost were prepared using the biofibres along with other biomaterials and were comprised of; a larvicide crude filtrate as active ingredient, feather and onion peel powders (as floating agent), rubber latex (as gluing material), plaster of paris (as hydraulic binder) and wheat flour (feeding attractive). The shape and size of floats and granules were optimized for bouncy and sustained release of active ingredient (larvicide) for period of 30 days to be floated on small/medium sized stagnant water bodies and to be sprayed on moisture dampened areas to control mosquito breeding respectively. The larvicidal keratin extract does not have any deleterious (antibacterial effect) on normal commensal of septic tank including E. coli. In addition, affordable and efficient cowslips of different sizes were developed based on the hoof morphometric data, using rubber tyre wastes with the aim of relieving pressure in affected hooves in dairy animals.