Research on surgery to rebuild human broken nerve with 'spider thread' is ongoing
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One of the Nephila spiders that live in Tanzania is known for spitting out extremely strong thread, its tear resistance is more than nylon, elasticity is more than 4 times that of steel, and it can withstand a heat environment of 250 degrees, It has water resistance and is an antibacterial material. Yarn of silk spider from this nature has been noted in terms of bio-medical, is a professor of plastic surgery of MedUni Vienna University Hospital in Vienna Christine Radtke says, the spider thread as a new material of nerve reconstructive surgery I am researching the possibility of using it.
Strong and elastic spider silk can help retrain nerves to grow after damage
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/spider-silk-nerve-damage/
Repairing damaged nerves and tissue with spider threads | MedUni Vienna
https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/web/en/about-us/news/detailsite/2017/news-in-july-2017/repairing-damaged-nerves-and-tissue-with-spider-threads/ ..
When a human loses a part of the nerve, the remaining nerve has to extend the nerve fiber to the vacant portion to cover the gap in order to make up for the lost portion. However, in order for the nerve to grow in the right direction, a “structure” that guides is needed. Usually, when a person injures the peripheral nervous system, they use synthetic conduits as a 'structure' to reconnect the nerves, but a 4cm wound to reconnect the nerves cut by the synthetic conduits. Is the limit. This procedure can be very difficult if the peripheral nervous system larger than 5 cm is injured by a tumor excision or accident.
Therefore, the research team of Professor Radtke and colleagues researched the possibility of using spider silk instead of synthetic conduits. The spider thread used between the broken nerves works just like a lattice fence used when planting roses, and nerve fibers are spider threads as if the rose vines extend up the lattice. Try to reconnect with another nerve.
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In an experiment using animals, he succeeded in repairing a nerve that suffered 6 cm of damage with a spider silk, and the nerve fiber reconnected and regained its function in about 9 months. Many materials used to reconnect nerves have the function of inhibiting nerve growth, but spider silk is a substance of natural origin and does not interfere with nerve function. Also, since it is finally decomposed in the human body, there is no rejection reaction.
There are currently 21 spiders in the hands of Professor Radtke, and the spider silk is collected once a week. It takes hundreds of meters of spider thread to heal a 6cm wound on a nerve, but the time required to collect a 200m spider thread is about 15 minutes, and spiders can be damaged during work. there is no.
The woman in the image is Professor Radtke.
Although clinical trials have not been conducted as of August 2017, once the clinical trials have passed and the spider silk can actually be used for surgery, it will not only reconnect nerves, but also ligaments and half-moons. It is also thought to be used for plate damage, treatment of severe burns, and neurological disorders that require cell transplantation.
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