Muscles of Silk: a very wrong expression

Muscles of Silk

Muscles of Silk: a very wrong expression

An innovative elastic fibre

Using the expression “muscles of silk” to highlight a certain level of fragility of a muscle structure is not correct. The combination of natural silk fibre / fragility, (perhaps due to the intangibility of silk), is a combination that has no scientific basis.

On the contrary, the natural silk fibre, also thanks to the innovations made by Cosetex and T.Silk, make it the material of the future, with exceptional characteristics of traction resistance and tenacity, elasticity and bending and twisting strength.

Silk is a biomaterial and a natural microfibre extremely compatible with the physiological processes of the human body, capable of enhancing its functionality and rejuvenating processes.

 

Silk and the study of muscles

Researchers from Utah State University, (Silkworm Silk Fibre Bundles as Improved In Vitro Scaffolds for Skeletal Muscle, Matthew H. Clegg, Thomas I. Harris, Xiaoli Zhang, Jacob T. Barney, Justin A. Jones, Elizabeth Vargis), are experimenting with cell cultivation of muscle tissue with the aim of proving clinical improvements on important diseases such as muscular dystrophy.

The skeletal muscle system is responsible for all forms of movement and provides support, stabilisation and protection. Any damage or atrophy causes serious deficits and to combat it, it is essential to have a laboratory tissue that is analysable and representative.

 

 Muscle cells

 

Usually, the study of muscle cells starts from a two-dimensional model obtained by culturing the various cells on a support (Petri dishes). In this way, however, the three-dimensionality of the muscle tissue is lost.

 

Supports in silk fiber

The use of silk fibre supports,  in the Utah State University project, made it possible to achieve the perfect three-dimensionality of the cultivated tissue. Cells obtained thanks to silk have been shown to:

  • Be more flexible
  • Have genes for muscle contraction
  • Ensure a correct alignment of the muscle fibres never achieved in the past.

 

The natural silk fibre, once again, shows that it is much more than a simple fibre: a natural laboratory of processes, characteristics and properties that make each of its applications possible at the highest levels, able to define innovative cutting-edge solutions, using only nature.

A further demonstration to consider it THE MATERIAL OF THE FUTURE.

“Having silky muscles will be a sign of strength and not of fragility.”

Elizabeth Vargis, professor of biological engineering at USU