The golden orb-weaver spider from Tanzania spins such strong webs that Tanzanian fishermen use them for fishing. Their spider silk is more tear-resistant than nylon and four times more elastic than steel, is heat-stable up to 250° C, extremely waterproof and, on top of that, has antibacterial properties. These characteristics also make it attractive from the point of view of biomedical research. Initial studies conducted by Christine Radtke, new Professor for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at MedUni Vienna/Vienna General Hospital, have shown in an animal model that the threads have great potential for nerve and tissue repair.
There is currently a great need for such techniques in plastic and reconstructive surgery, especially for so-called extensive nerve injuries of more than 5 cm in length in the peripheral nervous system – for example following a serious accident or after tumour resection. Apart from limited nerve grafts, doctors have only been able to use synthetic conduits (interposition graft), to reconnect severed nerves so that the nerve fibres can grow back together. “However, this only really works well over short distances of up to 4 cm, at most,” explains Radtke.
Radtke and her colleagues at the Medical University of Hannover, from whence the surgeon transferred to Vienna in October 2016, developed a new microsurgical technique that involves filling the veins with spider silk to form a longitudinal guide structure. “This acts almost like a rose trellis,” explains Radtke, who is continuing her research at MedUni Vienna/Vienna General Hospital. “The nerve fibres use the silk fibres to grow along in order to reconnect with the other end of the nerve. The silk provides the cells with good adhesion, supports cell movement and encourages cell division.”
In an animal model, this technique successfully repaired nerve damage over distances of up to 6 cm: the nerve fibres grew back together in a functional way within 9 months. At the same time, the framework of spider threads, which is a natural substance, was completely broken down by the body. Equally, spider silk does not provoke a rejection reaction.
200 m of spider silk in max. 15 minutes
Radtke currently has 21 spiders – and hopes to increase this to 50. The spider threads are mechanically harvested, allowing up to 200 m of spider silk to be obtained within 15 minutes. On average, the spiders are “milked” once a week. This process does not harm the spider, which then receives an extra ration of cricket. Several hundred meters of silk are needed to bridge a 6-cm-long nerve injury.
Work is currently underway to certify spider silk as a medical device, so that it can also be used in clinical trials on humans. Once that has been done, there are other potential applications, says the surgeon: for example in orthopaedics for meniscus or ligament injuries or as a potential skin substitute for deep skin burns. It is possible that spider silk could also be used in future for other neurological diseases where cell transplantation plays a role.
Learn more: Repairing damaged nerves and tissue with spider threads
The Latest on: Spider silk
[google_news title=”” keyword=”spider silk” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]- 24/7 Market News Publishes Report on Recent Spider Silk Production Breakthroughs Featuring Kraig Biocraft Laboratorieson May 10, 2024 at 10:01 am
Denver, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - May 10, 2024) - 247marketnews.com, a pioneer in digital media dedicated to the swift distribution of ...
- 24/7 Market News Publishes Report on Recent Spider Silk Production Breakthroughs Featuring Kraig Biocraft Laboratorieson May 10, 2024 at 4:01 am
The Company recently reports that its spring spider silk production trials "were an unabashed success", exceeding expectations and positions Kraig Labs for commercial scale production of its ...
- Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Spring Spider Silk Production Trials Exceed Expectationson May 9, 2024 at 7:05 am
Kraig Labs reports that the spring production trials were an unabashed success. These trials proved that the Company's BAM-1 recombinant spider silk hybrids are ready for rapid production expansion.
- Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Spring Production Trials Exceed Expectations for the Production of the Company's Recombinant Spider Silkon May 6, 2024 at 4:05 am
These trials proved that the Company's BAM-1 recombinant spider silk hybrids are ready for rapid production expansion. Simply stated, this has been the most fruitful and successful production ...
- Oh Great, Spiders Can Swimon May 4, 2024 at 8:08 am
Some spiders make their homes near or, more rarely, in water: tucking into the base of kelp stalks, spinning watertight cocoons in ponds or lakes, hiding under pebbles at the seaside or along a creek ...
- They swim and they spin: Meet the aquatic spiderson May 2, 2024 at 5:00 am
Some make nests inside seashells, others tote bubbles of air on their backs. The spiders that went back to water evolved lots of slick survival strategies.
- Silk, The Ancient Material With High-Tech Possibilitieson April 25, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Of all of these, spider silk has been the most sought after, and the most elusive. Theirs are fibers that combine incredible tensile strength with resilient elasticity, required by spiders for a ...
- spider silkon February 7, 2024 at 4:00 pm
While spider silk proteins are something you can make in your garage, making useful drag line fibers has proved a daunting challenge. Now, a team of scientists from Japan and Hong Kong are closer ...
- What’s the deal with those big banana spiders in SC? Here’s what you need to knowon August 12, 2022 at 2:45 am
In South Carolina, the banana spider refers to what is also called a golden silk orb-weaver (Nephila clavipes). This arachnid species is a common American spider that can be found throughout the ...
- Spider Silk, Spider Silk, Made Using A Strain Of Yeaston November 6, 2020 at 7:13 pm
In this case, we’re talking about genetically modified yeast that produces spider silk. If that sounds like a lead-in to some Spiderman jokes and sci-fi references, you are correct on both accounts.
via Google News and Bing News