Scientists have found that wool could provide an effective and sustainable new option for repairing damaged bone.
The research focused on keratin, a natural structural protein that can be extracted from wool. When tested in a living animal, the material supported bone regeneration and produced new tissue that more closely resembled healthy, natural bone than tissue formed using the current gold standard material.
Researchers at King's College London tested the wool-based keratin in animal models and found that it could help direct new bone growth across damaged areas.
"We are really excited to show for the first time how a wool-based material has been successfully tested in a living animal to repair bones," said Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy at King's Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences.
Wool Offers a Sustainable Source for Bone Repair
