Scientists from King’s College London have demonstrated that ordinary sheep wool can serve as the basis for a new generation of materials used to repair damaged bones, reports Medical Xpress.

The study showed that keratin derived from wool can effectively stimulate the growth of new bone tissue and, in some respects, even bring its structure closer to that of healthy natural bone better than the current “gold standard” — collagen.

The research focuses on the development of biomaterials for regenerative medicine and dentistry. For decades, collagen has been considered the primary material for special membranes and scaffolds that help the body regenerate bone after injuries, surgeries, or tissue loss. However, collagen has its drawbacks: it degrades relatively quickly, is not always sufficiently strong, and requires complex and costly production.

The research team, led by Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy, developed an alternative material based on keratin — a structural protein found in wool, hair, and nails. The scientists extracted keratin from sheep wool and chemically processed it to create durable, biocompatible membranes.

Initially, the material was tested on human bone cells in the laboratory. The cells grew successfully on the keratin-based material and showed signs of forming healthy bone tissue.

The membranes were then implanted into rats with artificially created skull defects that are unable to heal on their own. Over several weeks, researchers observed how the material promoted bone regeneration.

Although collagen membranes generally stimulated the formation of a greater volume of bone tissue, keratin structures demonstrated another important advantage: the new bone was more organized and structurally stable. The fibers were arranged more properly and more closely resembled the architecture of natural healthy bone.

The scientists also noted the material’s good compatibility with surrounding tissues and its stability throughout the healing process — both of which are considered critical for future clinical applications.

An additional point of interest is the environmental aspect of the development. Wool is a renewable natural material and often remains a byproduct of agriculture. Therefore, keratin-based biomaterials could potentially be not only effective but also significantly more sustainable in terms of production.

The authors believe that this research may pave the way for a new class of regenerative biomaterials that could eventually become an alternative to collagen in medicine and dentistry.