Physicochemical characterization and biotechnological application areas of Shed Snake Skin

Keratin, which is the main structural protein of structures such as nails, hooves, hair and wool, is frequently preferred by researchers due to its many unique properties as well as being non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable. However, information on the physicochemical analyzes and biotechnological applications of the snake shirt, which contains structural keratin, is very limited. In the present study, physicochemical analyzes of the waste jacket of Dolichophis caspius (Hazer snake, bozyörük), which has a high keratin content and shows a wide distribution, were made for the first time and evaluated as a material in biotechnological applications. Characterization of the untreated waste snake skin was performed on three different parts of the dorsal scale, ventral scale and hinge using FT-IR, SEM, TGA, XRD, ICP-MS, Amino Acid Analysis, Elemental Analysis and Contact Angle Measurement devices. The antimicrobial activities of three different parts of the snake shirt were tested and it was found that they did not show antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Streptococcus mutans bacteria. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT analysis and cell viability after the first 72 hours was 77.0%, 110.2% and 94.4% for the ventral scale, dorsal scale and hinge parts, respectively. D-Panthenol, which is widely used in wound healing, was loaded on three different parts of the snake shirt, namely dorsal scale, ventral scale and hinge, and its release properties were investigated. The mean drug loading capacities for the dorsal scale, ventral scale and hinge parts were recorded as 2.07±0.13%, 1.28%±0.04%, 1.77±0.95%, respectively. In the first 1 hour, 46.67% of the drug was released on the dorsal scale, 80.09% on the ventral scale and 69.85% on the hinge portion. The L929 cell line was used in cell culture applications and it was seen that the snakeskin was not a good substrate for L929 cells. No pre-treatment was applied to the snake shirt in any of the analyzes and applications, and it was used in its original form. Keywords: Snake skin, Biopolymer, Snake molting, Ecdysis, Dolichophis caspius