Silk — the best and most versatile medical material of the future
Source:What do you think will help humanity in the future to defeat a lot of diseases? Antibiotics? Edit the genome? Medical microbots? Researchers from Purdue University believe that such material is silk, a special modification which they are now just developing. According to statements of scientists, to use their silk can be used for the disinfection of wounds, prosthetics and even replace tendons.
To create a "therapeutic" silk scientists have introduced the DNA of the silkworm special protein that can produce light when exposed to specific substances that kill bacteria. Yourself silk threads are red in color and have the property of luminescence. As shown by one study, after putting on the silk bacteria E. Coli and lighting conventional led lamps, per hour the number of bacteria decreased by 45%, on efficiency of disinfection comparable to peroxide. Moreover, silk also has a cooling effect that can be used to relieve inflammation. In addition, due to the bactericidal effect of silk can be used not only to create threads and dressing material, but also for air and water filters.
But that, the range of the use of silk is not the end: as the publication of Advanced Science, silk can be used to strengthen bones when cracked. Plus silk over traditional plates and pins in that they do not need to be removed, as the silk will disintegrate completely within 1 year. And when you add silk to nanocellulose it can be used to create artificial tendons. The hybrid material has the strength of silk and the necessary elasticity due to the pulp in order to perform the function of tendons in the human body.
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