W&M ScholarWorks Undergraduate Honors Theses Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 5-2021 The Role of Spider Silk in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Langston Forbes-Jackson Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses Part of the Biomaterials Commons, and the Nanomedicine Commons Recommended Citation Forbes-Jackson, Langston, "The Role of Spider Silk in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration" (2021). Undergraduate Honors Theses. Paper 1703. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/1703 This Honors Thesis -- Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Undergraduate Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. The Role of Spider Silk in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Arts / Science in Biology from William & Mary by Langston Forbes-Jackson Accepted for ____Honors_________________________ (Honors, High Honors, Highest Honors) __Hannes Schniepp_ _________ Type in the name, Director ______________________________ Lizabeth A. Allison ________________________________________ Type in the name ________________________________________ Type in the name Williamsburg, VA May 10, 2021 Langston Forbes-Jackson The Role of Spider Silk in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Abstract Spider silk neural guidance channels (NGCs) are highly important innovations in the field of regenerative medicine. This paper will discuss the evidence in the literature that supports their function in regenerative medicine and provide a template for future experiments in the field. While many studies within the past 15 years have demonstrated the validity of spider silk as a scaffold for peripheral nerve regeneration, the molecular mechanics that facilitate regeneration are poorly understood.