Spider’s silk for surgical sutures

Spider’s silk is an extremely strong and elastic biomaterial that can be used for many purposes: from surgical sutures to bullet-proof vests.

Researchers at SLU have now learned how spiders produce their silk thread. Soluble proteins are produced from a gland in the spider’s body. When this solution passes through the thread canal, pH is lowered from 7 to 6, and the thread is formed.

It is possible to produce spider silk with the help of the intestinal bacteria Escherischia coli, to whose DNA has been added a fragment of DNA from a South African spider.
The scientists have induced these bacteria to form pieces of spider silk protein. The proteins join themselves together into metre-long threads that are stronger than tendons.

It has been found that spider silk produced in this way is tolerated by human cells in vitro. Hence, there is a good chance that patients will also tolerate this material when used for medical applications.