A bio-engineering approach to generate bioinspired (spider) silk protein-based materials

Abstract Natural materials exhibit unique properties from the molecular to the macro scale. Utilizing biological engineering approaches, they can act as a blueprint for novel and sustainable solutions in material science and technology. This paper focuses on spider silks, exemplifying a high-performance biopolymeric fibrous material with exceptional mechanical properties, high biocompatibility, slow biodegradation, low immunogenicity, and, in some cases, microbe-repellent features. In-depth understanding of the molecular structure-function relationship has facilitated the development of engineered recombinant silk proteins. In combination with biomimetic processing, they can be used for technical as well as biomedical applications.