Electrospinning of Silk Biomaterials

Overview

Silk fibers have been processed and used to create fabrics and threads for centuries. However, the solubilizing of silk fibers, thereby turning it into a versatile pre-polymer solution is a much newer technology. Solubilized silk can be processed in many different ways to create a biocompatible material with controllable mechanical properties.

This video introduces the processing of silk from silk worm cocoons, and shows how the silk solution can be used to create a fiber mat via electrospinning. Several applications of this technique, such as its use as a structural material in engineered tissue scaffolds, are then introduced.

Procedure

Biologically derived materials possess key properties that are beyond the reach of synthetic materials, enabling the fabrication of complex structures with improved properties. Biomaterials are materials that are created or produced from living or once-living organisms. These materials, such as silk, typically undergo various processing steps to reach a usable and controllable state. The processed biomaterial can then be utilized to form specific structures such as fibrous mats, hydrogels, and films. T

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