An Enzymatic Method for Harvesting Functional Melanosomes after Keratin Extraction: Maximizing Resource Recovery from Human Hair

Abstract Hair contains about 80% keratins and 1–3% melanin packaged in melanosomes. Both of which are high-value and functional raw materials that have potential applications in wide ranging fields. While keratin extraction has been widely refined, efficient methods of melanosome extraction are limited. The extraction of melanosomes requires complete removal of keratin, thus combined keratin extraction and melanosome isolation is logical. Herein, a successive process to harvest melanosomes after keratin extraction from human hair waste was developed. The yield of melanosome was about 1.3% of total hair mass. The structure of harvested melanosomes is well preserved based on surface morphology and interior ultrastructural observations using electron microscopy. The chemical structure, UV-filtering ability, and thermal stability of the melanosomes are examined to demonstrate preservation of native functions. Our strategy of combining melanosome isolation with keratin extraction is shown to be effective and significantly improves the total resource recovery efficiency from human hair waste.

Download Full-text

Pathogenesis of Human Hair Defects

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010005007x ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 32 ◽

pp. 12-13

Author(s):

P.S. Porter ◽

T. Aoyagi ◽

R. Matta

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽

Human Hair ◽

Standard Techniques ◽

Scanning Electron

Using standard techniques of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), over 1000 human hair defects have been studied. In several of the defects, the pathogenesis of the abnormality has been clarified using these techniques. It is the purpose of this paper to present several distinct morphologic abnormalities of hair and to discuss their pathogenesis as elucidated through techniques of scanning electron microscopy.

Download Full-text

Ruthenium Red Staining of Human Hard Keratin Fibers

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100054005 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 40 ◽

pp. 278-279

Author(s):

M. C. Buhrer ◽

R. A. Mathews

Keyword(s):

Human Hair ◽

Ruthenium Red ◽

Acid Mucopolysaccharides ◽

Biochemical Studies ◽

Keratin Fibers ◽

Ruthenium Red Staining ◽

Extracellular Materials

Ruthenium red has been used as a stain to demonstrate a variety of extracellular materials, especially acid mucopolysaccharides. It also reacts with certain intracellular and extracellular lipids. Since biochemical studies in our laboratory demonstrated the presence of a variety of monosaccharides in human hair ruthenium red staining procedures were adopted in order to evaluate the presence and morphological location of acid oligosaccharides in the keratinized aspect of hair.

Download Full-text

Human-hair analysis

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100124835 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 886-887

Author(s):

Brenda E. Lambert ◽

Ernest C. Hammond

Keyword(s):

Human Hair ◽

Hair Analysis ◽

Hair Shaft ◽

White Female ◽

Chemical Processing ◽

X Ray ◽

Hair Samples ◽

Wave Technique ◽

Permanent Wave ◽

Scanning Electron

The purpose of this study was to examine the external structure of four human hair shaft samples with the scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and to obtain information regarding the chemical composition of hair by using the attached x ray microanalysis unit.The hair samples were obtained from two female subjects. Sample A was taken from a black female and had not undergone any type of chemical processing. Sample B, C, D were taken from a white female, and were natural, processed, and unpigmented, i.e. “gray”, respectively. Sample C had been bleached, tinted, and chemically altered using a permanent wave technique.

Download Full-text

Cosmetology treatments on human hair: An SEM study

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100167160 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

pp. 940-941

Author(s):

D.F. Bowling

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

High Resolution ◽

Human Hair ◽

Optical Microscope ◽

Convincing Evidence ◽

Brightness Contrast ◽

Sem Study

High school cosmetology students study the methods and effects of various human hair treatments, including permanents, straightening, conditioning, coloring and cutting. Although they are provided with textbook examples of overtreatment and numerous hair disorders and diseases, a view of an individual hair at the high resolution offered by an SEM provides convincing evidence of the hair‘s altered structure. Magnifications up to 2000X provide dramatic differences in perspective. A good quality classroom optical microscope can be very informative at lower resolutions.Students in a cosmetology class are initially split into two groups. One group is taught basic controls on the SEM (focus, magnification, brightness, contrast, specimen X, Y, and Z axis movements). A healthy, untreated piece of hair is initially examined on the SEM The second group cements a piece of their own hair on a stub. The samples are dryed quickly using heat or vacuum while the groups trade places and activities.

Download Full-text