Article in Journal

Sustainable Approaches for Keratinous and Corneous-Based Products: A Review of Resource Recovery, Heterologous Proteins Expression, and Intellectual Property.

Barone, G.D., Tagliaro, I., Oliver-Simancas, R., Radice, M., Kalossaka, L.M., Mattei, M., Biundo, A., Pisano, I., & Jiménez-Quero, A.

Environmental Science & Ecotechnology

OPEN ACCESS

July 31, 2024


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Keratins and corneous proteins are key components of biomaterials used in a wide range of applications and are potential substitutes for petrochemical-based products. Horns, hooves, feathers, claws, and similar animal tissues are abundant sources of α-keratin and corneous β-proteins, which are by-products of the food industry. Their close association with the meat industry raises environmental and ethical concerns regarding their disposal. To promote an eco-friendly and circular use of these materials in novel applications, efforts have focused on recovering these residues to develop sustainable, non-animal-related, affordable, and scalable procedures. Here, we review and examine biotechnological methods for extracting and expressing α-keratins and corneous β-proteins in microorganisms. This review highlights consolidated research trends in biomaterials, medical devices, food supplements, and packaging, demonstrating the keratin industry's potential to create innovative value-added products. Additionally, it analyzes the state of the art of related intellectual property and market size to underscore the potential within a circular bioeconomic model.

This research output is related to

Spoke 02

Smart and circular food system and distribution

To valorize food waste and smart and virtuous logistics

Lead organisationCNR

Spoke leaderAntonio Moretti
Research projectMETRO_FARM

Treatment of agro-industrial food byproducts and wastes by fermentation and enzymes


Managed by


Principal investigators

Alessandra Verardi,Anna Valenti ,Daniela Bassi,Diego Romano,Pasquale Ferranti,Fabio Minervini

Referred to

Spoke 02