Silk fibers spun by silkworms and spiders exhibit exceptional mechanical properties with a unique combination of strength, extensibility and toughness. In contrast, the mechanical properties of regenerated silk materials can be tuned through control of the fabrication process. Here we introduce a biomimetic, all-aqueous process, to obtain bulk regenerated silk-based materials for the fabrication of functionalized orthopedic devices. The silk materials generated in the process replicate the nano-scale structure of natural silk fibers and possess excellent mechanical properties. The biomimetic materials demonstrated excellent machinability, providing a path towards the fabrication of a new family of resorbable orthopedic devices where organic solvents are avoided, thus allowing functionalization with bioactive molecules to promote bone remodeling and integration.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.