Artificial bone deal for Keratec

Christchurch-based Keratec is gearing up to create artificial bones and other medical products from the wool of the humble sheep.

Keratec has signed a deal to work with US-based Keraplast Technologies on commercialising keratin-based biomedical technologies. The two companies will make their combined technologies available to the designers of orthopaedic and wound care products.

They have designed technologies that use natural biomaterials based on keratin, a natural component of human skin, hair and nails. Keratec is already extracting and purifying natural keratin proteins and lipids from wool for use in cosmetics.

- NZPA