Silk-based biomaterials and applications

Photocrosslinkable silk fibroin-hyaluronic acid hybrid hydrogels enable chondrocyte-driven matrix deposition and mechanical maturation for cartilage tissue engineering

This study develops a photocrosslinkable silk fibroin-hyaluronic acid hydrogel that supports chondrocyte viability and matrix deposition, leading to mechanical maturation for cartilage tissue engineering.

Evolution of highly repetitive silk genes in the Luna moth, Actias luna

This study characterizes sericin gene evolution in the Luna moth, revealing gene duplications, repeat variation, and subfunctionalization across life stages and species.

Evaluating Flow-Focused Microfluidic Device Fabrication Techniques for Silk Fibroin Microgel Production

This study compares three microfluidic fabrication techniques for producing silk fibroin microgels with tunable properties, finding each method has unique advantages and limitations.

Receptor-based protein binding in the supramolecular network of velvet worm slime

This paper identifies evolutionarily conserved LRR proteins in velvet worm slime that form receptor-like structures, enabling reversible supramolecular network formation in bioadhesive fibers.

Enhancing the versatility of photocrosslinkable silk fibroin using an eco-friendly solvent

This paper improves the sustainability of photofibroin by using an eco-friendly solvent, enabling versatile fabrication techniques for biomedical applications.

Tailoring hydrophobicity and strength in spider silk-inspired coatings via thermal treatments

This study develops spider silk-inspired coatings using renewable materials, showing that thermal treatments enhance hydrophobicity and mechanical strength.

Characterization of primary structure of the major silk gene, h-fibroin, across caddisfly suborders (Trichoptera)

The paper characterizes the primary structure of h-fibroin across caddisfly suborders, finding conserved termini and variable repeating modules linked to silk mechanical properties.

Composition of minor ampullate silk makes its properties different from those of major ampullate silk

The paper investigates the composition and properties of minor ampullate silk (MI-silk) compared to major ampullate silk (MA-silk) and identifies MaSp2 as the factor affecting water resistance.

Molecular atlas reveals the tri-sectional spinning mechanism of spider dragline silk

The paper creates a molecular atlas of spider dragline silk production in Trichonephila clavata, revealing a tri-sectional biosynthesis mechanism and cell-type organization in the major ampullate gland.

Recombinant protein condensation inside E. coli enables the development of building blocks for bioinspired materials engineering - biomimetic spider silk protein as a case study

The paper shows that recombinant spider silk-mimetic protein forms liquid-like condensates in E. coli, which transition to solid-like states under acidic conditions, enabling bioinspired material development.

Darwin's bark spider shares a spidroin repertoire with Caerostris extrusa but achieves extraordinary silk toughness through gene expression

The paper investigates spidroin sequences and gene expression in Darwin's bark spider and its relative, finding that while spidroin genes are conserved, higher expression in Darwin's bark spider contributes to its tougher silk.

Multicomponent nature underlies the extraordinary mechanical properties of spider dragline silk

The paper identifies the multicomponent nature of spider dragline silk and shows that its mechanical properties arise from the combination of specific spidroin and SpiCE proteins.

The common house spider, Parasteatoda tepidariorum, maintains silk gene expression on sub-optimal diet

The study examines how diet affects silk gene expression in house spiders, finding that low-energy diets reduce minor ampullate spidroin transcripts but not dragline or major ampullate spidroins.

Silk Fibroin as an Additive for Cell-Free Protein Synthesis

This paper investigates the use of silk fibroin as an additive in cell-free protein synthesis, finding it increases productivity but does not protect against drying and inhibits hydrogel formation.

Towards Spider Glue: Long-read scaffolding for extreme length and repetitious silk family genes AgSp1 and AgSp2 with insights into functional adaptation

The paper sequences two large, repetitive silk gene family genes using long-read scaffolding and provides insights into their functional adaptation.