Medic spider silk usable for the repair of injured nerves?

Repair damaged nerves and tissues with spider threads
Time and again, researchers report on new findings on how substances from nature can be used in medicine. A study by scientists in Austria has now shown that spider silk could be used to repair damaged nerves and tissues.

Medicine from nature
In recent years, teams of scientists from various research institutes have reported on new findings that show how substances from nature can be used for medicine. Just a few days ago, researchers from the USA published a study in which it was shown that certain slug mucus is suitable as a medical superglue. And scientists in Austria have now found that damaged nerves and tissues can be repaired with spider threads.

There are spider silk that is more tear resistant than nylon and more stretchable than steel, extremely heat resistant, and extremely waterproof and antibacterial. It is suitable for repairing nerves and tissue, as researchers now report. (Image: butterfly-photos.org/fotolia.com)

Tear-resistant than nylon and more stretchable than steel
Years ago, experts reported that spider silk can be used in medicine. Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna have now presented new findings.

According to a college statement, the golden zebra spider from Tanzania spins networks so strong that Tanzanian fishermen use them for fishing.

Their spider silk is more tear resistant than nylon and four times more stretchable than steel and also up to 250 degrees Celsius heat stable, extremely waterproof and also has an antibacterial effect. These properties also make them interesting for biomedical research.

First studies by Christine Radtke, new Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the MedUni Vienna / AKH Vienna, have shown in the animal model that the threads have great potential to repair nerves and tissue.

Reconnect severed nerves
In plastic and reconstructive surgery, there is currently a need for so-called long-stretched nerve injuries in the peripheral nervous system from five centimeters in length - for example after a serious accident or after tumor removal.

So far, the physicians could use only artificial tubes (Interponat) in addition to the limited nerve transplant, to reunite severed nerves, which contribute to the fact that the nerve fibers grow together again.

"But this only works well over short distances of up to four centimeters," explains Radtke.

Therefore, the doctor and her colleagues at the Hannover Medical School, from where the surgeon came to Vienna in October 2016, have developed a new microsurgical method in which venous spider veins are filled as a longitudinal guiding structure.

Natural product is totally broken down by the body
"This works practically like a rose grid," explains Radtke, who continues to drive research in Vienna.

"The nerve fibers use the silk fibers to grow along it to reach the opposite end of the nerve. The silk provides the cells with good adhesion, supports cell movement and promotes cell division. "

With this method distances up to six centimeters could be overcome in the animal model for nerve damage: The nerve fibers grew together functionally within nine months.

At the same time, the skeleton of spider threads, which is a natural product, is totally broken down by the body. There is also no rejection reaction.

Further areas of application conceivable
According to the information, Radtke currently has 21 spiders - 50 are still to be. The spider's thread is then milked by machine - in 15 minutes so up to 200 feet of spider silk can be obtained.

The animals are "milked" once a week on average. The spider is doing nothing, she gets later an extra ration crickets (a kind of cricket) fed. For the bridging of a nerve damage of six centimeters several hundred meters of silk are needed.

In order to be able to use the spider silk in human clinical trials, work is currently continuing on the certification as a medical device.

Thereafter, however, further areas of application are conceivable, as the surgeon, for example in orthopedics in meniscus or ligament injuries, in deep skin burns as a possible skin replacement.

In the future, spider silk could also be used in other neurological diseases in which cell transplants play a role. (Ad)