Neural implant

Abstract

A neural implant comprising spider silk, especially a neural implant consisting of natural spider silk fibres. In particular, the present invention makes available spider silk for use for the production of a pharmaceutical composition whose medical indication is defects in nerves that are to be bridged. Thread-like spider silk is arranged essentially in an axial direction within a sheathing formed of spider silk threads. The sheathing can be knitted, woven, laced or braided of spider silk threads.

1 . Neural implant for bridging interruptions or defects within a nerve, said neural implant consisting of thread-like spider silk arranged essentially in an axial direction within a sheathing formed of spider silk threads. 
     
     
         2 . Neural implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheathing is knitted, woven, laced or braided of spider silk threads. 
     
     
         3 . Neural implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheathing has non-positive fit to the thread-like spider silk arranged therein. 
     
     
         4 . Neural implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the thread-like spider silk that is arranged within the sheathing is arranged around a carrier element and is aligned essentially in the longitudinal direction thereof. 
     
     
         5 . Neural implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the thread-like spider silk is natural spider silk. 
     
     
         6 . Neural implant according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the natural spider silk is obtainable from a golden silk orb-weaver spider. 
     
     
         7 . Neural implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the spider silk threads forming the sheathing are cross-linked by a bi-functional or tri-functional cross-linking agent that forms a chemical link between superficial areas of silk segments. 
     
     
         8 . Neural implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-linking agent is hexane-1,6-dicarboxylic acid (suberic acid). 
     
     
         9 . Neural implant for bridging interruptions or defects within a nerve, said neural implant consisting of thread-like spider silk arranged essentially in an axial direction within a sheathing consisting of knitted, woven, laced or braided spider silk threads. 
     
     
         10 . Neural implant according to  claim 9 , wherein the sheathing has non-positive fit to the thread-like spider silk arranged therein. 
     
     
         11 . Method for treatment of an interruption or defect within a nerve, wherein a neural implant consisting of thread-like spider silk arranged essentially in an axial direction within a sheathing formed of spider silk threads is arranged to bridge the interruption or defect. 
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein the nerve is a motor nerve or a sensory nerve.