Brain Implants Made of Silk May Halt Epilepsy Spread

Silk is commonly used in fabric, forming clothes, sheets and other materials that consumers wear or use. Now, though, this substance has entered the lab; scientists have used silk implants in the brains of laboratory animals in order to stop the progression of epilepsy.

Epilepsies are a group of neurological disorders associated with recurring seizures that tend to become more frequent and severe over time. There are some chemicals that can help with this condition. Adenosine, for example, decreases neuronal excitability and helps stop seizures. In fact, earlier studies have suggested that abnormally low levels of adenosine may be linked to epilepsy. The problem is finding out a way to deliver the chemical to the brain. That's why the researchers turned to silk.

The scientists decided to look at the long-term effects of an adenosine-release silk-implant therapy in rats. More specifically, they examined the role of adenosine in causing epigenetic changes that may be associated with the development of epilepsy.

One particular mechanism involved in a specific type of epilepsy is an increase in mossy fiber sprouting. This involves the formation of new excitatory circuits in the part of the brain where seizures commonly originate. Yet at the end of the experiment, the researchers found that animals that had been treated with the adenosine-releasing silk implants showed less sprouting than animals that had not been given the drug.

"Based on our findings that 10 days of adenosine delivery prevented the sprouting of mossy fibers for at least three months in rats, we predict that the benefits of our adenosine therapy may extend even longer," said Detlev Boison, senior author of the new paper, in a news release. "However, this assumption needs to be validated in long-term experiments that go beyond three months."

The findings reveal that the implants are safe to use in rats. The next step, of course, is testing the new method to make sure that it's safe for humans. Yet the research is hopeful for future treatments.

"Adenosine-releasing silk is a biodegradable implant," said Boison. "The release of adenosine occurs for 10 days and then the silk will completely dissolve. This is an ideal set-up for a transient preventative treatment."

Currently, researchers are focusing on determining how safe these silk implants are for humans. In addition, the scientists plan to demonstrate how long the effects of the adenosine-releasing silk implant will last.

The findings are published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.