ITMO Researchers Create Material for Medical Sutures Made from Real Spider Webs

Scientists from the International Research Center SCAMT at ITMO developed special medical material for subcutaneous sutures, which will help track the occurrence of infections.

Complications after medical interventions occur in 10-20% of patients. They develop in wounds due to insufficient sterility or "hospital fauna". The framework of the new material consists of natural spider silk Linothele fallax. This type of spider weaves its web not radially, but in a web. So it is easier to collect and receive in sufficient volumes.

Seam filler - carbon dots with fluorescent properties. They allow the stitches to glow right under the skin. In addition, these inclusions are biocompatible and biodegradable, which means that the seams will not harm a person and will gradually disintegrate without forming toxins.

The first author of the article, ITMO master’s student Elizaveta Maltseva, explains: doctors will determine whether a person is infected or not using a special blue lamp. If there is no inflammation under the skin, the seams will glow. And if a pathogen has entered the body, there will be no fluorescent effect.

The authors of the study tested the technology on common infectious agents. Among them are Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and a fungus that causes candidiasis.

Scientists have already conducted tests for biocompatibility and toxicity of the material in relation to human cells. In the future, they plan to study the degradability of the material in more detail in order to understand how long it retains its useful properties. The next step is to conduct tests in real operating conditions.