Scientists Develop Healing Spider Silk for Medical Use

Researchers have created artificial spider silk that can effectively heal wounds, SciTech Daily reported yesterday citing ACS Nano.

This innovative silk, produced using genetically engineered microbes, is woven into bandages that successfully treated injuries in mice. Unlike traditional spider silk, which is difficult to harvest due to spiders’ territorial nature, this synthetic version is strong and biocompatible.

The team, led by Bingbing Gao, modified the natural protein sequence to enhance the silk’s yield and stability. By incorporating additional peptides, they prevented the proteins from clumping together. Using a 3D printer with tiny hollow needles, they spun the protein solution into fibers, mimicking a spider’s web.

The new silk bandages were tested on mice with osteoarthritis and diabetic wounds. Results showed significantly improved healing compared to standard dressings, with reduced swelling and better tissue repair.