Biomimetic Mineralization of Keratin Scaffolds for Enamel Regeneration
Journal article, 2025
Biomimetic protein-based platforms, with their hierarchical networks and optimal mechanical properties, show promising potential for hard tissue regeneration, including dental enamel. However, achieving aligned enamel-like apatite nanocrystals from organic matrices remains challenging. A simple organic-based approach to re-create the hierarchical enamel structure using water-based keratin films is reported. These films assemble via disulfide bridging into a fibrous organic network and birefringent spherulitic construction of predominant ordered β-sheet conformation. The flexible structure of keratin templates facilitates rearrangement of the secondary structures into α-helices upon mineralization, guiding the ordered growth of apatite nanocrystals. This system has shown potential in repairing early defective dental enamel lesions, restoring both optical appearance and mechanical properties. This study offers a promising, simple, and clinically-friendly method for developing novel protein-based matrices for hard tissue regeneration from naturally abundant sources.
spherulites
enamel
biomineralization
white spot lesion
regenerative dentistry
Author
Sara Gamea
Tanta University
King's College London
Elham Radvar
King's College London
Dimitra Athanasiadou
University of Toronto
Chalmers, Physics, Materials Physics
Ryan Lee Chan
University of Toronto
Giacomo De Sero
University of Trento
Ecaterina Ware
Imperial College London
Sunie Kundi
King's College London
Avir Patel
King's College London
Shwan Hormaee
King's College London
Shuaib Hadadi
King's College London
Mads Carlsen
Paul Scherrer Institut
Leanne Allison
King's College London
Roland Fleck
King's College London
Ka Lung Andrew Chan
King's College London
Avijit Banerjee
King's College London
N. Pugno
Queen Mary University of London
University of Trento
Marianne Liebi
Paul Scherrer Institut
Chalmers, Physics, Materials Physics
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Paul T. Sharpe
King's College London
Karina Carneiro
University of Toronto
Sherif Elsharkawy
King's College London
NHS Foundation Trust
Advanced healthcare materials
2192-2640 (ISSN) 2192-2659 (eISSN)
Vol. 14 30 e02465Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Odontology
DOI
10.1002/adhm.202502465