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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 23: Biopolymers, Biomaterials and Bioinspired Functional Materials I (joint session CPP/BP)

BP 23.1: Hauptvortrag

Mittwoch, 11. März 2026, 15:00–15:30, ZEU/0255

Engineering, processing and application of recombinant spider silk proteins — •Thomas Scheibel — Universität Bayreuth, Lehrstuhl Biomaterialien, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Str. 1, 95440 Bayreuth

Proteins reflect one fascinating class of natural polymers with huge potential for technical as well as biomedical applications. One well-known example is spider silk, a protein fiber with excellent mechanical properties such as strength and toughness. We have developed biotechnological methods using bacteria as production hosts which produce structural proteins mimicking the natural ones. We employ silk proteins in application forms such as fibers, hydrogels, particles or films with tailored properties, which can be employed especially for biomaterials applications. In case of implants or catheters cell adhesion plays a crucial role for the overall function of the to-be-used material. To change the properties of in-use polymers and to adopt their biocompatibility, we established coatings based on engineered spider silk proteins. Spider silk hydrogels can be employed as new bioinks for biofabrication. Their elastic behavior dominates over the viscous behavior over the whole angular frequency range with a low viscosity flow behavior and good form stability. Cell-loaded spider silk constructs can be easily printed without the need of additional cross-linkers or thickeners for mechanical stabilization. Our bio-inspired approach serves as a basis for new materials in a variety of medical, biological, or technical applications.

Keywords: Spider silk; Biofabrication; Hydrogels; Tissue engineering; Fibers