Spider Silk Structure, Engineering, and Applications

In contrast to current fossil fuel-based synthetic materials, spiders spin the ultra-strong and totally recyclable fibers at ambient temperatures, low pressures, and using water as the solvent [5, 6]. There are accordingly many advantages to copying the spider silk and silk production capabilities. 

In this chapter, we wiU focus on spider dragline silk, since it is the strongest of the silk fibers. Firstly, the structure design of spider silk wiU be introduced. 

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Insect and spider silks are natural biopolymers whose molecular structure enables their use in applications requiring exceptional strength and flexibility of the material. These traits along with their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and the ability to produce large amounts of the material make the use of silk and silk-based biomaterials a rational choice for a host of tissue engineering applications. 

The novel mechanical and visual features of silk fibers from silkworms and spiders have driven interest in this family of structural protein fibers for centuries. The ability to manipulate silkworms for domesticated production of silk fiber, the opportunity to exploit spider silks via genetic engineering, and future options to mimic the novel features of this family of protein fibers using synthetic approaches, continues to drive strong interest in these protein fibers. With growing applicabihty of these fibers in biomedical and consumer product applications, this interest is likely to continue to expand. 

In contrast, spider silk is devoid of sericin and hence does not evoke the same biological or immunological reactions. Thus, spider silk has better biocompatibility and is a preferred biomaterial for suture applications. It has also been studied as a material for regenerative nerve conduits to promote peripheral nerve regeneration [33]. Silk s unique mechanical properties coupled with its ability to be fabricated into different textile structures enable its use in tissue engineering scaffolds that mimic the mechanical properties of native tissues. For example, silk filaments have been converted into a braided rope stracture that acts as a scaffold for the regeneration of anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) [34]. 

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