Silk is a natural fiber spun by insects and arachnids that, when compared to other natural materials and even man-made materials, exhibits an unparalleled combination of strength, elasticity, and toughness. These properties are highly desirable for applications requiring lightweight high performance elastomers. Silk materials are furthermore completely biodegradable and generally biocompatible, making them well-suited for biomedical applications. The properties of silk originate from silk fibroin, the main protein component found in the core of silk threads, which has a primary sequence resembling a segmented copolymer with alternating beta-crystalline and amorphous blocks. However, chemical synthesis of silk-mimetic macromolecules has faced persistent challenges, such as poor sequence control, macromolecular aggregation, long reaction times, and low molecular weight products. In this talk, we will present a novel 2-stage approach for rapid, modular synthesis of silk-mimetic polymers with precisely defined crystalline blocks and improved molecular weight. We furthermore demonstrate the successful formation of secondary structures and supramolecular conformations by these polymers that are consistent with natural silk fibroin.

Challenges and progress towards the chemical synthesis of silk-mimetic macromolecules

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.