Spider Silk: High-Performance Next-Gen Materials — Spiber

Biological model: Spiders (various species producing different silk types)

Company: Spiber

Development of high-performance synthetic spider silk proteins for next-generation materials with exceptional strength and flexibility.

The challenge

Synthetic fibers require petroleum and high energy; high-strength materials are heavy; need for sustainable high-performance materials.

Nature's strategy

Spider silk protein structure and properties.

What was emulated

Protein amino acid sequence and secondary structure creating strength and elasticity.

The innovation

Fermentation-produced spider silk proteins spun into high-strength fibers.

Full case study

Spider silks are among the strongest natural fibers, combining high tensile strength with elasticity. Spiber and other biotechnology companies use fermentation to produce recombinant spider silk proteins that can be spun into fibers. These materials have applications in textiles, structural components, and specialized applications requiring strength-to-weight optimization.