Hierarchical design of silkworm silk for functional composites
Author affiliations * Corresponding authors a School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, P. R. China b School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, P. R. China E-mail: [email protected] c School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, P. R. China d State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Abstract Silk-reinforced composites (SRCs) manifest the unique properties of silkworm silk fibers, offering enhanced mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. These composites present an eco-friendly alternative to conventional synthetic materials, with applications expanding beyond biomedical engineering, flexible electronics, and environmental filtration. This review explores the diverse forms of silkworm silk fibers including fabrics, long fibers, and nanofibrils, for functional composites. It highlights advancements in composite design and processing techniques that allow precise engineering of mechanical and functional performance. Despite substantial progress, challenges remain in making optimally functionalized SRCs with multi-faceted performance and understanding the mechanics for reverse-design of SRCs. Future research should focus on the unique sustainable, biodegradable and biocompatible advantages and embrace advanced processing technology, as well as artificial intelligence-assisted material design to exploit the full potential of SRCs. This review on SRCs will offer a foundation for future advancements in multifunctional and high-performance silk-based composites. Article information DOI https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CS00776J Article type Review Article Submitted 27 Dec 2024 First published 16 Apr 2025 Download Citation Chem. Soc. Rev., 2025, Advance Article Permissions Hierarchical design of silkworm silk for functional composites K. Yang, J. Zhang, C. Zhang, J. Guan, S. Ling and Z. Shao, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2025, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D4CS00776J To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page. If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page. Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content. Social activity Spotlight Advertisements