Studying spider webs is leading to new kinds of medical sutures embedded with medication.
(PhysOrg.com) -- The study of spider webs has led to a discovery that will generate new kinds of medical sutures embedded with medication. The University of Akron scientists have developed a novel synthetic material similar to a specific kind of silk spun by an orb spider. The specific web design is known as BOAS because it looks like beads-on-a-string in a circular web. The beads are glue droplets. The replication of this design can potentially be used as strong and flexible sutures that contain medication embedded in these bead-like structures.
The researchers developed the new biocompatible thread after meeting with physicians who specialize in wound healing and who expressed the need for better material-related solutions to medical problems.
The scientists published their findings in the American Chemical Society journal Langmuir in an article titled Spider Silk Inspired Functional Microthreads and will present at two upcoming scientific conferences. The next step is to apply for funding to speed the commercialization process to create medical materials that can help heal injured tendons or tissue. Keep on reading...
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