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With great structure comes great functionality: Understanding and emulating spider silk

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2014

Cameron P. Brown ,
Alessandra D. Whaite ,
Jennifer M. MacLeod Open the ORCID record for Jennifer M. MacLeod [Opens in a new window] ,
Joanne Macdonald  and
Federico Rosei
Cameron P. Brown*
Affiliation:
Botnar Research Centre, University of Oxford, UK
Alessandra D. Whaite
Affiliation:
Genecology Research Centre, School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
Jennifer M. MacLeod
Affiliation:
INRS – Centre Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Boulevard Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, Québec J3X 1S2, Canada
Joanne Macdonald
Affiliation:
Genecology Research Centre, School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia; and Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, USA
Federico Rosei*
Affiliation:
INRS – Centre Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Boulevard Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, Québec J3X 1S2, Canada; and Center for Self-Assembled Chemical Structures, McGill University, H3A 2K6 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
*
a)Address all correspondence to these authors. e-mail: cameron.brown@ndorms.ox.ac.uk
b)e-mail: rosei@emt.inrs.ca
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Abstract

The overarching aim of biomimetic approaches to materials synthesis is to mimic simultaneously the structure and function of a natural material, in such a way that these functional properties can be systematically tailored and optimized. In the case of synthetic spider silk fibers, to date functionalities have largely focused on mechanical properties. A rapidly expanding body of literature documents this work, building on the emerging knowledge of structure–function relationships in native spider silks, and the spinning processes used to create them. Here, we describe some of the benchmark achievements reported until now, with a focus on the last five years. Progress in protein synthesis, notably the expression on full-size spidroins, has driven substantial improvements in synthetic spider silk performance. Spinning technology, however, lags behind and is a major limiting factor in biomimetic production. We also discuss applications for synthetic silk that primarily capitalize on its nonmechanical attributes, and that exploit the remarkable range of structures that can be formed from a synthetic silk feedstock.

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Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 30 , Issue 1: Focus Issue: Soft Nanomaterials , 14 January 2015 , pp. 108 - 120
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

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References

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