(246g) Invited Talk: Silk-Based Advanced Materials, Devices and Tissues – a Guide to the Future

We focus on biopolymers and bioengineered material systems, devices and 3D tissues to probe structure-function and to achieve new functional and utilitarian outcomes. These material systems are based on the premise that biology has solved many complex problems in terms of materials science and engineering through the benefit of evolution, thus, insights into the processing, assembly and functions with these biopolymers can serve as the foundation for new and novel material designs and systems that match sustainability goals, along with benefits to human health. Silk proteins are prime examples as fibrous protein systems, where large landscapes of sequences and exogenous factors influence folding, assembly, mechanics and functions. This extends into new processing modes, entrained and stabilized bioactive components, and the fabrication of devices towards dynamic and living material outcomes. Finally, such system designs can serve as important blueprints for future materials chemistry and engineering to generate new synthetic polymers for improved sustainability.