Spider Silk for Tissue Engineering Applications

Overview

Journal Molecules

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Biology

Date 2020 Feb 13

PMID 32046280

Citations 54

Authors

Sahar Salehi

Kim Koeck

Thomas Scheibel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Due to its properties, such as biodegradability, low density, excellent biocompatibility and unique mechanics, spider silk has been used as a natural biomaterial for a myriad of applications. First clinical applications of spider silk as suture material go back to the 18th century. Nowadays, since natural production using spiders is limited due to problems with farming spiders, recombinant production of spider silk proteins seems to be the best way to produce material in sufficient quantities. The availability of recombinantly produced spider silk proteins, as well as their good processability has opened the path towards modern biomedical applications. Here, we highlight the research on spider silk-based materials in the field of tissue engineering and summarize various two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds made of spider silk. Finally, different applications of spider silk-based materials are reviewed in the field of tissue engineering in vitro and in vivo.

Citing Articles

Advances in regenerative medicine-based approaches for skin regeneration and rejuvenation.

Dutra Alves N, Reigado G, Santos M, Caldeira I, Hernandes H, Freitas-Marchi B Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2025; 13:1527854.

PMID: 40013305 PMC: 11861087. DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2025.1527854.

In Vivo Vascularization of Cell-Supplemented Spider Silk-Based Hydrogels in the Arteriovenous Loop Model.

Osterloh J, Heltmann-Meyer S, Trossmann V, Cai A, Kulicke Y, Terorde K Biomimetics (Basel). 2025; 10(2).

PMID: 39997140 PMC: 11853081. DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics10020117.

An innervated skin 3D in vitro model for dermatological research.

Rousi E, Malheiro A, Harichandan A, Mohren R, Lourenco A, Mota C In Vitro Model. 2025; 2(3-4):113-121.

PMID: 39871995 PMC: 11756442. DOI: 10.1007/s44164-022-00021-0.

Expression of spider silk protein in tobacco improves drought tolerance with minimal effects on its mechanotype.

Morey-Yagi S, Hashida Y, Okamoto M, Odahara M, Suzuki T, Thagun C Plant J. 2025; 121(2):e17213.

PMID: 39866095 PMC: 11771620. DOI: 10.1111/tpj.17213.

Exploring the Unique Properties and Superior Schwann Cell Guiding Abilities of Spider Egg Sac Silk.

Peter K, Stadlmayr S, Naghilou A, Ploszczanski L, Hofmann M, Riekel C ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2025; 8(2):1307-1319.

PMID: 39823552 PMC: 11836930. DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c01587.

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