Sheep’s Wool Helps Repair Bone
from Dr. Howard Smith Reports Hosted by Howard G. Smith MD, AM
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DcWuazhvODJ/ The same material that creates lovely sweaters can help repair damaged bone. Prosthodontic specialists at King’s College London have developed a bone-repair scaffold from keratin, the structural protein found in sheep’s wool. The researchers first demonstrated that this material can facilitate the formation of human bone from individual bone cells, osteoblasts. They then implanted the membranes into rats with large skull defects that would not normally heal on their own. The keratin scaffolds supported new bone growth and remained stable while integrating with surrounding tissue. When comparing sheep keratin with collagen, the material conventionally used to stimulate bone regrowth, their studies show that the bone produced with keratin is more organized, has better-aligned fibers, and is anatomically more similar to natural bone. Another advantage: wool is a renewable and scalable source of this very useful keratin biomaterial. At this time, sheep keratin has only been tested in animals. Once clinical studies confirm its safety and effectiveness, it may be a game-changer for reconstructive surgery. References On My Website. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/scientists-turn-wool-into-sustainable-material-for-bone-repair. #BoneRegeneration #RegenerativeMedicine #MedicalResearch #Biomaterials #HealthyAging
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