Patent ID: 6989437

Claim:
A method for making a keratin network crosslinked by a multi-functional crosslinking agent comprising silicone, said method comprising exposing a plurality of α-keratin molecules comprising reactive pendant groups to said crosslinking agent under conditions effective to form covalent interprotein crosslinks between first reactive functionalities on said crosslinking agent and first reactive pendant groups on a first group of said α-keratin molecules, said conditions also being effective to form covalent interprotein crosslinks between second reactive functionalities on said crosslinking agent and second reactive pendant groups on a second group of α-keratin molecules, wherein said crosslinking agent has the following general structure: wherein n is from about 1 to about 50; and, at least two of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 comprise at least one reactive functionality; wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; cyclic, linear, and branched alkyl and heteroalkyl groups having from about 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, said groups comprising both unsubstituted groups and groups substituted with one or more reactive functionalities, wherein said heteroalkyl groups comprise acetoxy groups, silane groups optionally comprising one or more alkyl substitutent having a total of from about 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or combinations thereof.