"Artificial Spider Gland Produces Scalable Naturalistic Silk"

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science in Japan have developed a microfluidic device that mimics the natural process of spider silk production, successfully spinning artificial silk with a molecular structure closely resembling that of natural spider silk. This eco-friendly innovation has the potential to impact various industries and could lead to more sustainable production methods. The device recreates the complex molecular architecture of spider silk by exposing precursor spidroin solution to precise changes in the chemical and physical environment, resulting in the self-assembly of silk fibers with the characteristic alignment of beta sheets.