![]() Skin cells had spread from the corners into the meshes, reaching towards each other. (Pictured: days 1 and 4 after seeding the mesh frame. Skin cells genetically engineered to be resistant to bacteria could reduce infections and improve chances of survival among burn victims. Given the proper nurturing nutrients, warmth and air, the human skin cells that were placed on these scaffold meshes flourished.Then they wove meshes from the silk onto rectangular steel frames. ![]() To test the silk’s usefulness, they essentially MILKED golden silk orb-weaver spiders by stroking their silk glands and spooling up the silk fibers that came out.In particular, the extraordinary strength and stretchiness of spider silk "are important factors for easy handling and transfer of many kinds of implants," says study researcher Hanna Wendt of Medical School Hannover in Germany. Unlike the silk from silkworms (you know, from elementary school), spider silk doesn’t trigger rejection from the body. Not only is it the toughest known natural material – 5 times stronger than Kevlar – its ancient folklore suggests that it could fight infections, stem bleeding, and heal wounds. Yannas, MIT professor of polymer science and engineering, who is continuing research into applying his methods to replacing other damaged body parts. Materials like collagen and even synthetic polymers didn’t seem strong enough. CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-Surgeons around the country are now being trained in implanting artificial skin on burn patients, culminating years of work by Ioannis V. ![]() Ideally such a graft would be of a material tolerated by the body, have skin cells embedded within it to replace lost tissue, degrade safely over time as the new skin grows in and be strong enough to withstand all the rigors ordinary skin experiences. ![]()
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