Turning silk like fairy floss into artificial blood vessels will provide a lifeline for cardiovascular patients, scientists say.
Cardiovascular disease is Australia's top killer, contributing to one in four deaths.
But after almost a decade of developing silk artificial blood vessels, researchers are confident they have found a solution to lower the numbers.
In a world-first test, Australians scientists were able to successfully put a silk blood vessel into a sheep in December.
Now they are turning their focus to using one of nature's strongest materials in humans.
"We're the first to bring this natural biomaterial this far along the translational pathway," University of Sydney cardiovascular bioengineering professor Steven Wise told AAP on Wednesday.
"Now we're at a place where we're in sheep and pigs, which are quite like a human."
The vessel starts as a silk cocoon plucked from a farm where it is cut, dried and washed to form a liquid.
It is then spat through a minuscule tube onto a cylindrical roll, where it forms a fluff similar to fairy floss.
Once the fairy-floss solution solidifies, it can be used in bypass surgery as a long-term artery or vein.
The technology will replace current artificial blood vessels, which are made from Gore-Tex, the same material as rain jackets.
"(The plastic is) really bad for you," Professor Wise said.
"They cause blood to clot, so our strategy is to build with a natural material that does belong in your body."
The scientific discovery comes as shovels dig into the ground at the University of Sydney to build a new biomedical centre.
Planned to be completed by 2028, the $780 million Sydney Biomedical Accelerator aims to find solutions to complicated health issues such as cancer and deadly diseases.
NSW is now in the box seat to advance medical technology, according to state Health Minister Ryan Park.
"It's been said for a long time that Victoria is the heart of medical research in this country," he said.
"This puts us back in front of centre in this race.
"This is putting money in our mouth of where we need to go ... (so) our communities can live the most healthy lives possible."
The research hub will play a key role in reducing cardiovascular disease worldwide, Sydney Local Health District chief executive Deb Willcox said.
The disease kills almost 18 million people per year globally, the World Health Organisation says.
"It's an enormous burden across the globe," Ms Willcox said.
"The work that this building bring us will bring treatments forward, provide new medication and procedures, and reduce the burden on people's lives."
The Sydney Biomedical Accelerator is expected to house more than 1200 researchers and clinician scientists once opened.
