Human Hair Keratin Microspheres Prepared by the Water-In-Oil Emulsion Solvent Diffusion Method for Hydrophilic Drug Carrier

Human hair keratin (HK) was prepared with reducing agent and used in solution to construct microspheres by the simple emulsion solvent diffusion method. The obtained microspheres were observing under scanning electron microscope (SEM). The shape, size distribution and content of microspheres were influenced by W:O ratios. A and 1% w/v keratin solution and 100 mL of oil phase were optimal conditions for fabrication of HK microspheres. The authors studied drug loading efficiency of the HK microspheres by using blue-dextran a model drug and found that the drug loading efficiency as well as releasing profile of blue-dextran were gradually increased by increasing keratin concentration. In conclusion, HK microspheres could be used as hydrophilic carrier molecules for drug delivery system application.