Heterogeneous protein networks crosslinked with silicone-containing links, and methods for producing them

摘要

Methods for producing biocompatible heterogeneous proteinaceous networks crosslinked with a heterogeneous crosslinked agent are disclosed. The disclosure particularly relates to a method for making a keratin network crosslinked by a multi-functional crosslinking agent comprising silicone, said method comprising exposing a plurality of keratin molecules comprising reactive pendant groups to said crosslinking agent under conditions effective to form covalent interprotein crosslinks between first reactive functionalities on said crosslinking agent and first reactive pendant groups on a first group of said keratin molecules, said conditions also being effective to form covalent interprotein crosslinks between second reactive functionalities on said crosslinking agent and second reactive pendant groups on a second group of keratin molecules, wherein said crosslinking agent is silicone-based and has the general structure shown herein.