Spider Silk Scaffolds Guide Heart Cell Growth
Spider silk combines strength with flexibility. Oxford researchers used synthetic versions to create scaffolds for growing heart tissue. Last year’s trial produced functional tissue for biological pacemakers with 30% better cell alignment. They aim for clinical use by 2028. This approach could someday allow doctors to grow replacement heart tissue in the lab before implantation. The silk’s molecular structure guides cells into proper formations while providing necessary support for three-dimensional growth.