Issue 8, 2007

Hair—the most sophisticated biological composite material

Abstract

Hair is a proteinaceous fibre with a strongly hierarchical organization of subunits, from the α-keratin chains, via intermediate filaments, to the fibre. The chemistry of the different morphological compartments results in exciting physical properties, including the hydrophilic/hydrophobic paradox. The present tutorial review will be of interest for protein- as well as polymer chemists, who want to learn from nature, and also for biochemists interested in the cytoskeleton and particularly in intermediate filaments; it also presents a scientific basis for hair cosmetics.

Graphical abstract: Hair—the most sophisticated biological composite material

Article information

Article type
Tutorial Review
Submitted
16 Aug 2006
First published
15 Feb 2007

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2007,36, 1282-1291

Hair—the most sophisticated biological composite material

C. Popescu and H. Höcker, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2007, 36, 1282 DOI: 10.1039/B604537P

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