ITMO: Wound healing material based on spider silk

Main Article: Wound Healing

2022: Announcement of wound healing material based on spider silk

On July 12, 2022, ITMO representatives announced the creation of a wound healing material based on spider silk - it can be used as threads for suturing after operations. In addition, the development will help doctors quickly track possible wound infection after surgical manipulation. The material is safe for the human body.

Samples of spider silk without nanodots (left) and with them (right). When irradiated with blue light, the glow in the orange-red region of the spectrum is noticeable.

As reported, one of the most difficult stages in surgery is wound healing - because the outcome of the operation largely depends on it. Usually, surgical sutures are used for this, which must be biocompatible and biodegradable. However, there is a risk of infection of the site of the operation, which complicates the patient's recovery. In addition, it can be difficult to quickly track the appearance of pathogens after surgery.

Scientists of the chemical-biological cluster ITMO have found a way to overcome this problem. They have developed a hybrid material based on natural webs, which allows you to simultaneously not only heal wounds, but also quickly find pathogens that provoke various diseases. It will be possible to make subcutaneous surgical threads for suturing after operations. The method proposed by the researchers was tested on opportunistic bacteria such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans fungus.

The material consists of two components: spider silk (web) - it acts as a framework for tissue regeneration - and carbon points (a class of nanomaterials) that have the property of fluorescence (that is, they can glow when light is absorbed at a certain wavelength). With their help, it will be possible to track the healing process in real time after stitching wounds.

В своей работе scientists used silk Linothele fallax - one of the species of spiders weaving webs not radially, but with a cloth. It is easier to collect and can be obtained in large volumes.

We modified the spider's natural silk with fluorescent carbon dots. Their main property is the ability to glow when absorbing energy (light). Also, these nanoparticles can serve as a sensor for detecting pathogens, since when interacting with them, the glow decreases, and the optical response is not observed. Usually, when we irradiate our material with blue light, it turns red. But after interacting with pathogens, the material stops glowing. In the same way, doctors can check how wound healing goes after surgery, if in a light test the material retains fluorescent abilities, everything is in order, if not - most likely, the inflammatory process in the tissues. Our material can be used as subcutaneous threads for suturing. told Elizaveta Maltseva, author of the study, student of the chemical-biological cluster of ITMO University

The author of the study, a student of the chemical and biological cluster of ITMO University Elizaveta Maltseva.

The researchers tested the effectiveness of the resulting material in in vitro tests for biocompatibility and cytotoxicity.

Another possibility of our development is the ease of obtaining material. To do this, we collected a web of burrow spiders, cleaned it and then carried out a one-step synthesis. The novelty of the project is that we used the web as a framework material and carbon source to form nanoparticles. Basically, we grew carbon points on the surface of the web. As a result, we have a strong hybrid material that has proper mechanical properties. added Elizaveta Maltseva

At the next stage, scientists plan to test the development for biodegradability and biocompatibility in vivo.

The study was supported by Grant RSF No. 22-23-00790.