TY - JOUR

T1 - Silk-inspired polymers and proteins

AU - Hardy, John G.

AU - Scheibel, Thomas R.

PY - 2009/8/1

Y1 - 2009/8/1

N2 - The biocompatibility and biodegradability of natural silk fibres and the benign conditions under which they (with impressive mechanical properties) are produced represent a biomimetic ideal. This ideal has inspired people in both academia and industry to prepare silk-mimetic polymers and proteins by chemical and/or biotechnological means. in the present paper, we aim to give an overview of the design principles of such silk-inspired polymers/proteins, their processing into various materials morphologies, their mechanical and biological properties, and, finally, their technical and biomedical applications.

AB - The biocompatibility and biodegradability of natural silk fibres and the benign conditions under which they (with impressive mechanical properties) are produced represent a biomimetic ideal. This ideal has inspired people in both academia and industry to prepare silk-mimetic polymers and proteins by chemical and/or biotechnological means. in the present paper, we aim to give an overview of the design principles of such silk-inspired polymers/proteins, their processing into various materials morphologies, their mechanical and biological properties, and, finally, their technical and biomedical applications.

KW - biomimetic material

KW - silk-inspired polymer

KW - silkworm silk

KW - spider silk

KW - BOMBYX-MORI SILK

KW - GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED SILK

KW - SAMIA-CYNTHIA-RICINI

KW - SPIDER-SILK

KW - BETA-SHEETS

KW - PERIODIC POLYPEPTIDES

KW - STRUCTURAL-ANALYSIS

KW - FIBROIN

KW - COPOLYMERS

KW - CRYSTALLIZATION

U2 - 10.1042/BST0370677

DO - 10.1042/BST0370677

M3 - Literature review

VL - 37

SP - 677

EP - 681

JO - Biochemical Society Transactions

JF - Biochemical Society Transactions

SN - 0300-5127

IS - 4

ER -