Abstract:
The demand for sustainable, nature-derived biomaterials is rapidly intensifying. Keratins, readily sourced from abundant farming waste streams like feathers and wool, offer unique advantages due to their high proportion of functional groups and inherent propensity to self-assemble. In this talk, we present our group's recent advancements in developing functional keratin-based templates across various physical formats. Key highlights include a novel cryogelation technique to produce 3D hydrogels with tunable properties and strain-stiffening behavior, as well as single-step gradient hydrogels using cationic crosslinkers for antimicrobial applications. Furthermore, we will introduce keratin-based micrometer-sized fibers fabricated via Interfacial Polyelectrolyte Complexation (IPC), which match the mechanical properties of commercial materials and function as highly biocompatible surgical sutures in vivo. Beyond biomedical uses, we will showcase the innovative potential of keratin sponges as growing media for urban farming. Collectively, our work demonstrates the exceptional versatility and functional outcomes of keratin platforms across diverse fields.
Biography:
Prof. Ng Kee Woei is the Professor and Chair of the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. Holding a PhD in Medicine and degrees in Mechanical Engineering, his research is highly interdisciplinary and translational. Over the past 25 years, his work has focused on sustainable biomaterial platforms using nature-derived biomasses, pioneering novel keratin-based applications for tissue regeneration, bioplastics, and urban farming. He is also a leading researcher in nanotoxicology, particularly concerning skin exposure to engineered nanomaterials. Prof. Ng is a faculty researcher at the Skin Research Institute of Singapore and serves on the Technical Committee on Nanotechnology for Enterprise Singapore. Previously, he directed the NTU-Harvard School of Public Health Initiative on Sustainable Nanotechnology (2016-2022). In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Prof. Ng was elected as an Academician of the Asia Pacific Academy of Materials in 2025.
