Silk is considered a material of the future because screws made from this instead of metal or synthetic-based systems could be used in surgical implants as a better way to repair broken bones. Silk Screws. Image © Gabriel Perrone
Silk is an extremely strong material which has led to its use in experimental brain implants, heart patches as well as bio-electronics. Researches from Tufts University, made plates and screws from silkworm cocoons and tested the materials in six rats. They reported, that after four to eight weeks, the silk had dissolved. Silk screws offer a promising new way to repair bone fractures with less risk of infection and better wound healing. However, this could come to humans by 2030.
via popsci
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