This book provides information about the sources, structure, and properties of keratin as well as its applications. The extraction from different biomass sources (e.g. feathers, hairs, nails, horn, hoof, and claws) as well as the characterization methods of these extracted materials are explained. The development of bioproducts from keratins is challenging and limited since they are neither soluble in polar solvents nor in non-polar solvents. Therefore, the utilization of different microorganisms for the degradation of keratin is also discussed. The main aim of this book is to highlight the unique features of keratin and to update readers with the possible prospects to develop various value-added products from keratins. The book is highly interesting to researchers working in industry and academia on bioproducts, tissue engineering, biocomposites, biofilm, and biofibers.

Autorentext

Dr. Swati Sharma has completed her PhD. from University Malaysia Pahang, Malaysia in 2018. She worked as a visiting researcher in college of life and environmental sciences at Konkuk University, Seoul South Korea. Dr. Sharma has completed her masters (M.Sc.) in 2013 from Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni Solan H.P. India. She has also worked as program co-coordinator at Himalayan action research center Dehradoon and Senior research fellow at India agricultural research institute in 2013-2014. Dr. Sharma has published her research papers in reputed international journals. Presently, Dr. Sharma's research is in the field of bioplastics, hydrogels, keratin nanofibres and nanoparticles, biodegradable polymers and polymers with antioxidant and anti-cancerous activities and sponges.

Dr. Ashok Kumar, is working as an Assistant professor in Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. He has completed his Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Department of Biotechnology, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill, Shimla, India in 2013. He worked as a post-doctoral fellow in State Key laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan China for two years, 2014-2016. He also worked as Post Doctoral research associate at Konkuk University Seoul South Korea for 2016-2017. Dr. Ashok has keen interest in enzyme immobilization, biomaterials, biopolymers, nanobiotechnology, biocatalysis, waste management, biomass degradation, biofuel synthesis, gene cloning, characterization and biotransformation. Dr. Ashok has published 44 research papers in various internationally reputed journals and 11 book chapters.

Inhalt

Keratin; An Introduction.- Keratin Production and Its Applications: Current and Future Perspective.- Extraction and Characterization of Keratin from Different Biomasses.- Keratin Processing.- Degradation of Keratin Biomass by Different Microorganisms.- Keratin as a Biopolymer.- Keratin-Based Biofilms, Hydrogels, and Biofibers.- Keratin Based Biotechnological Applications.