Scientists turn sheep’s wool into a material that helps regrow bone

Scientists have discovered that wool-based keratin, a protein found in sheep’s wool, could offer a sustainable and effective solution for repairing damaged bone. The researchers at King's College London tested the keratin material in animal models and found that it successfully promoted bone regeneration, producing new tissue that closely resembled healthy, natural bone.

Keratin, extracted from wool, presents an attractive alternative to collagen, the current gold standard in regenerative medicine. While collagen has been widely used for its ability to create protective barriers during healing, it has several drawbacks. It is relatively weak, degrades quickly, and is expensive and complex to extract.

The King's College London researchers created stable and durable keratin membranes by chemically treating the wool-derived material. They tested these membranes in human bone cells in a lab setting, finding that the cells grew well and demonstrated signs of healthy bone formation. Next, they implanted the keratin membranes into rats with skull defects that wouldn't normally heal on their own.

The results showed that the keratin membranes supported new bone growth more effectively than collagen. The new tissue formed with the keratin scaffolds was more organized, structurally secure, and better aligned, resembling natural bone more closely. Additionally, the keratin material remained stable during the healing process and integrated well with surrounding tissue.

This breakthrough demonstrates that keratin can support bone regeneration in living biological systems, bringing the technology closer to potential medical applications. The researchers are excited about this new sustainable option for bone repair, moving beyond the limitations of collagen and providing a renewable and scalable resource.