A REVIEW ON SPIDER SILK STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Spider silk is an excellent biomaterial with outstanding mechanical stability, elasticity, and biocompatibility. Although promising, the cannibalistic nature of spiders poses a challenge to large-scale production, hindering commercial exploitation. Various silk varieties produced on spinnerets have acquired considerable importance, especially that of Trichonephila clavipes, which belongs to the genus Nephila. This review emphasizes the biochemical structure of dragline silk and discusses its ultrastructure using various microscopic techniques to elucidate the hierarchical structure of this substance. Furthermore, it also highlights the extensive applications of spider silk, particularly in biomedical, industrial, and technological fields. Integrating structural and functional perspectives, this review emphasizes the potential of dragline silk as a model biomaterial for future translational research.