Abstract

Spider silk is a fascinating material, combining remarkable mechanical properties with low density and biodegradability. Because of these properties and historical descriptions of medical applications, spider silk has been proposed to be the ideal biomaterial. However, overcoming the obstacles to produce spider silk in sufficient quantities and in a manner that meets regulatory demands has proven to be a difficult task. Also, there are relatively few studies of spider silk in biomedical applications available, and the methods and materials used vary a lot. Herein we summarize cell culture- and in vivo implantation studies of natural and synthetic spider silk, and also review the current status and future challenges in the quest for a large scale production of spider silk for medical applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers, 2011. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Keywords

spider silk; biocompatibility; cell culture

Published in

Biopolymers
2012, Volume: 97, number: 6, pages: 468-478

SLU Authors

• Widhe, Mona

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Spiber Technologies AB

• Johansson, Jan

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Karolinska Institute

• Hedhammar, My

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Rising, Anna

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Karolinska Institute
  • Spiber Technologies AB

UKÄ Subject classification

Biomaterials Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bip.21715

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/36149