Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Silk

Silk is a natural protein fiber produced by certain animals, most familiarly by silkworms that spin cocoons and by spiders that build webs. Its primary component is the structural protein fibroin, often accompanied by a coating protein, and it is prized for its strength, fineness, flexibility, and characteristic lus…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 5 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 30× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2377-2549 🗓 Reviewed June 2026

Overview

Silk is a natural protein fiber produced by certain animals, most familiarly by silkworms that spin cocoons and by spiders that build webs. Its primary component is the structural protein fibroin, often accompanied by a coating protein, and it is prized for its strength, fineness, flexibility, and characteristic luster. Beyond its long history as a textile, silk has become a subject of materials and chemistry research because its protein structure can be processed into forms such as films, gels, fibers, and coatings, and because it is biocompatible and biodegradable. These properties make silk attractive for applications in biomedical materials, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and other advanced uses, where its mechanical performance and compatibility with living systems are valuable. Researchers also study how silk proteins assemble, how their properties depend on processing conditions, and how silk-based materials can be engineered or combined with other substances to achieve specific functions. As a renewable, protein-based material, silk sits at the intersection of polymer chemistry, biochemistry, and materials science. As part of New Developments in Chemistry, this open-access page gathers peer-reviewed research relevant to natural and protein-based materials, biomaterials, and the chemistry of biologically derived substances.

Research published in this journal

5 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 5 articles above have been cited 30 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Silk, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in New Developments in Chemistry (ISSN 2377-2549).

Journal editorial board
Annarita Del Gatto · Italy Bharat Gurale · United States Palani ELUMALAI · United Kingdom

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.