Scientists Achieve Medical Breakthrough, Wool May Help Heal Bones
Islamabad (Qudrat Roznama) Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in the medical field by discovering that keratin — a protein derived from wool — could help regenerate bone tissue and serve as a natural alternative for strengthening bones.
According to reports, researchers at King’s College London tested wool-derived keratin in animal models and found that it could support bone repair in damaged areas. The findings suggest that the material may become a strong alternative for regenerative medicine and dental procedures.
The new study revealed that the structural protein extracted from wool can promote bone growth in living organisms. Researchers observed that the newly formed bone tissue closely resembled healthy natural bone and performed better than some conventional treatment materials currently considered standard in the field.
Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy from the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences at King’s College London said the team was excited to demonstrate for the first time that wool-derived material could successfully support bone healing in living animals.
He described the development as a major milestone in research, adding that keratin could emerge as a promising renewable biomaterial capable of replacing long-standing traditional treatment methods.
Scientists also highlighted the environmental benefits of the material, noting that wool is a natural resource often discarded as waste in farming industries. However, it contains keratin, which can be sustainably extracted and potentially produced on a large scale for medical use.
According to the report, researchers created special keratin membranes from wool and chemically processed them into strong and durable structures designed to support bone growth.
The team first tested the wool-derived keratin membranes on human bone cells in laboratory experiments, where the cells successfully regenerated and showed strong signs of healthy bone development.
