Navigation Links
Behind the secrets of silk lie high-tech opportunities
Date:7/29/2010

MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, Mass. -- Tougher than a bullet-proof vest yet synonymous with beauty and luxury, silk fibers are a masterpiece of nature whose remarkable properties have yet to be fully replicated in the laboratory.

Thanks to their amazing mechanical properties as well as their looks, silk fibers have been important materials in textiles, medical sutures, and even armor for 5,000 years.

Silk spun by spiders and silk worms combines high strength and extensibility. This one-two punch is unmatched by synthetics, even though silk is made from a relatively simple protein processed from water.

But in recent years scientists have begun to unravel the secrets of silk.

In the July 30, 2010, issue of the journal Science, Tufts biomedical engineering researchers Fiorenzo Omenetto, Ph.D., and David Kaplan, Ph.D., report that "Silk-based materials have been transformed in just the past decade from the commodity textile world to a growing web of applications in more high technology directions."

Fundamental discoveries into how silk fibers are made have shown that chemistry, molecular biology and biophysics all play a role in the process. These discoveries have provided the basis for a new generation of applications for silk materials, from medical devices and drug delivery to electronics.

Edible Optics, Implantable Electronics

The Science paper notes that the development of silk hydrogels, films, fibers and sponges is making possible advances in photonics and optics, nanotechnology, electronics, adhesives and microfluidics, as well as engineering of bone and ligaments. Because silk fiber formation does not rely on complex or toxic chemistries, such materials are biologically and environmentally friendly, even able to integrate with living systems.

Down the silk road of the future, Kaplan and Omenetto believe applications could include degradable and flexible electroni
'/>"/>

Contact: Kim Thurler
kim.thurler@tufts.edu
617-627-3175
Tufts University
Source:Eurekalert  

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Dinosaur-chewing mammals leave behind oldest known tooth marks
2. Gypsy moths wreak havoc, but their own enemies are not far behind
3. IOM report recommends framework to evaluate science behind health claims for foods and drugs
4. Untangling the quantum entanglement behind photosynthesis
5. Study pins factors behind geography of human disease
6. Searching for genes behind a trait
7. Scientists reveal driving force behind evolution
8. IUPUI researchers tackle protein mechanisms behind limb regeneration
9. The cause behind the characteristic shape of a long leaf revealed
10. Satellite data look behind the scenes of deadly earthquake
11. Fox Chase researchers uncover one force behind the MYC oncogene in many cancers
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
Behind the secrets of silk lie high-tech opportunities
(Date:5/21/2013)... of "place" is increasingly being considered in the ... a new resource that can help them recognize ... the places in their lives. , Place-Based ... book co-edited by the Pacific Northwest Research Station,s ... approach to conservation. The book is published by ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... Wash. A new analysis shows that the nation,s ... of enough algae to produce up to 25 billion ... States, one-twelfth of the country,s yearly needs. , The ... resources that would be needed to grow significant amounts ... results were published in the May 7 issue of ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... infections occur in the body, stem cells in ... and differentiating into mature immune cells that can ... can deplete these cell populations, potentially leading to ... cancer. Now, a team of researchers led by ... has found that, in mouse models, the molecule ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Going green: Nation equipped to grow serious amounts of pond scum for fuel 2Going green: Nation equipped to grow serious amounts of pond scum for fuel 3Going green: Nation equipped to grow serious amounts of pond scum for fuel 4Keeping stem cells strong 2
... the December issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, published ... which the mammary glands of mammals meet the incredible ... of breast development undoubtedly affect breast cancer, the findings ... researchers found that one of three “isoforms?of the gene ...
... in 1966 in Kenya. It has since been reported ... disease is characterized by the appearance of mottling and ... development of seeds are affected, which causes considerable yield ... by way of insect vectors or by straightforward contact ...
... People with HIV have been living longer, healthier lives since ... 1995. In fact, most patients on the drug regimen do ... appear to return to pre-HIV levels. But two new studies ... (ADARC) show that the immune cells in other body tissues ...
Cached Biology News:How mammals fuel milk production may have implications for cancer 2How mammals fuel milk production may have implications for cancer 3Discovery of the first resistance gene to rice yellow mottle virus 2Discovery of the first resistance gene to rice yellow mottle virus 3HIV-1 kills immune cells in the gut that may never bounce back 2HIV-1 kills immune cells in the gut that may never bounce back 3
(Date:5/21/2013)...  The Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute of the New ... Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative funded by the ... Sara Lustigman , Head of the Laboratory of Molecular ... project, titled Innovative 3-D in vitro culturing ... screen drugs to help eliminate onchocerciasis (river blindness) in ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... Custom Learning Designs, Inc.(CLD) unveils the ... Tin Can API combined with its own proprietary ... leading developer of training content and solutions for ... , Tin Can API is a cost-effective learning ... more accurately measure the Return on Education (ROE) ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... Through science fairs, workshops, kits for building optical ... organizations will continue their work to increase awareness about ... daily life with the aid of SPIE Education ... countries, are the first of two groups of recipients ... international society for optics and photonics , in 2013. ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... of a new study led by George Washington ... that nucleation of ice in small droplets is ... behavior at the nanoscale. The formation of ice ... research question whose answer also has important implications ... The crystallization of ice from supercooled water is ...
Breaking Biology Technology:New York Blood Center's Research Institute Receives Grand Challenges Explorations Grant For Groundbreaking Research in Global Health and Development 2New York Blood Center's Research Institute Receives Grand Challenges Explorations Grant For Groundbreaking Research in Global Health and Development 3CLD Integrates Tin CAN API with its eLearning Solutions and Launches its Excelerometer Tracking Statement Dashboard 2CLD Integrates Tin CAN API with its eLearning Solutions and Launches its Excelerometer Tracking Statement Dashboard 3Learning About Light: Education Outreach Projects Funded in 10 Countries Through First Round of SPIE Grants 2Learning About Light: Education Outreach Projects Funded in 10 Countries Through First Round of SPIE Grants 3Study led by GW professor provides better understanding of water's freezing behavior at nanoscale 2
... at The University of Texas at Austin have conducted a ... test tube, measuring a thousandth the diameter of a human ... a high-power electron microscope was required to see the experiment. ... tube was stuffed with a thread-like crystal (a nanowire) of ...
... Oct. 15 Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN ) today announced ... on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 after the close of the ... call with the investment community at 2 p.m. Pacific Time. ... Sharer, chairman and chief executive officer, and other members of ...
... Oct. 15 Today, Formatech, Inc. announced that ... ("Company") HIV/AIDS vaccine will be the first clinical candidate that ... production run is scheduled to be completed in January 2010. ... to aseptically fill and finish one lot of the vaccine ...
Cached Biology Technology:Tiny test tube experiment shows reaction of melting materials at the nano scale 2Amgen Announces Webcast of 2009 Third Quarter Financial Results 2Formatech, Inc. to Donate Services to Formulate and Fill GeoVax Labs, Inc. HIV/AIDS Vaccine Under Its 'Fillanthropy(TM) Program' 2Formatech, Inc. to Donate Services to Formulate and Fill GeoVax Labs, Inc. HIV/AIDS Vaccine Under Its 'Fillanthropy(TM) Program' 3Formatech, Inc. to Donate Services to Formulate and Fill GeoVax Labs, Inc. HIV/AIDS Vaccine Under Its 'Fillanthropy(TM) Program' 4
... of gene expression) technology allows ... profiles generated by SAGE are ... transcripts making it possible to ... Kit is designed to make ...
Incomplete Adjuvant...
2,4-Dinitrophenyl hapten is conjugated to Keyhole Limpet (KLH) protein through lysine....
...
Biology Products: