Insights Into Cold Atmospheric Plasma Triggered Self‐Assembly of Keratin Protein

ABSTRACT Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) is a novel method for biomaterial fabrication, inducing physicochemical changes in biomolecules. Keratin, an industrial waste product valued for its biocompatibility and biodegradability, formed self‐assembled structures under CAP treatment, as revealed by SEM. Zeta analysis showed increased surface charge, while TGA and XRD confirmed enhanced crystallinity with sharp‐edged nanocrystalline structures. Unique self‐assembly behaviors were observed in un‐dialyzed and dialyzed keratin. CAP modified keratin's self‐assembly through reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), inducing physical changes without altering its chemical structure or native conformation. This highlights CAP's potential to tailor keratin properties for specific applications.