The material is a synthetic version of natural spider silk, one of nature's most extraordinary substances. Natural spider silk is exceptionally flexible, elastic, and lightweight, yet tough-three times as strong as Kevlar and five times as strong as steel. And because it is natural, it is biodegradable and can be produced pollution-free. Furthermore, one of the most important qualities of spider silk is its endless versatility. Spider silk, synthetically made, could be used in countless applications with significant commercial impact and improvement to human life.

Research continues with a focus on expanding the usefulness of this important and promising technology. Such research includes artificial ways to "spin" the proteins into silk in the lab and in commercial situations and ways to produce large quantities of the proteins by introducing the engineered genes into other organisms such as bacteria, plants, and even larger animals like goats. Most recently the research has revealed a process to use the spider silk proteins to develop an all-natural adhesive glue, which could effectively be used in the medical field, and by consumers.

Innovative Aspects:
Synthetic spider silks could be used in the medical field to create strong and flexible artificial ligaments and tendons, bandages, and surgical thread. Also, spider silk is more environmentally sound because it is biodegradable and does not use any of the toxic, acidic, chemical processes used to produce most products.

 

Patents/Rights: Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted

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