Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Formation of Sandwich Complexes between Lanthanides and Chlorophylls Recovers Photosynthetic Activity and Imparts Crop Resistance to UV Stress via Single-Nanodose Seed Treatment.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2025

Same author

Precise Delivery of Physiological Doses of Melatonin in Planta to Control Postharvest Physiology and Extend Shelf Life Outside the Cold Chain.

Nano letters·2025

Same author

Nanofabrication of silk microneedles for high-throughput micronutrient delivery and continuous sap monitoring in plants.

Nature nanotechnology·2025

Same author

Nanosensor for Fe(II) and Fe(III) Allowing Spatiotemporal Sensing <i>in Planta</i>.

Nano letters·2025

Same author

High Aspect Ratio Polymer Nanocarriers for Gene Delivery and Expression in Plants.

Nano letters·2025

Same author

Chromatic covalent organic frameworks enabling in-vivo chemical tomography.

Nature communications·2024

Same journal

Chemotactic self-organization captures the dynamics of mammalian hair follicle patterning.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same journal

Tomographic imaging of superconducting order using particle-hole interference.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same journal

Inhibitory potential of autologous neutralizing antibodies sets quantitative limits on the rebound-competent HIV-1 reservoir.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same journal

Inferring epidemiological parameters under an infectious phylogeography model with visitor dynamics.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same journal

Analytical modeling for suction cup designs for skin-interfaced wearable devices.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same journal

Improving cell-free metabolism through direct integration of artificial respiratory chains.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Prescribed 3-D Direct Writing of Suspended Micron/Sub-micron Scale Fiber Structures via a Robotic Dispensing System

Prescribed 3-D Direct Writing of Suspended Micron/Sub-micron Scale Fiber Structures via a Robotic Dispensing System

Published on: June 12, 2015

Programming function into mechanical forms by directed assembly of silk bulk materials.

Benedetto Marelli¹, Nereus Patel¹, Thomas Duggan¹

¹Silklab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|December 29, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed simple, water-based methods using silk protein self-assembly to create versatile 3D silk materials. These robust, shapeable materials can be functionalized for diverse applications, including embedding optical and biological functions.

Keywords:

assembly bioinspired biomaterials silk sol–gel

More Related Videos

Material Formation of Recombinant Spider Silks through Aqueous Solvation using Heat and Pressure

Material Formation of Recombinant Spider Silks through Aqueous Solvation using Heat and Pressure

Published on: May 6, 2019

Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric and Biohybrid Fibers with Predesigned Size and Shape

Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric and Biohybrid Fibers with Predesigned Size and Shape

Published on: January 8, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Prescribed 3-D Direct Writing of Suspended Micron/Sub-micron Scale Fiber Structures via a Robotic Dispensing System

Prescribed 3-D Direct Writing of Suspended Micron/Sub-micron Scale Fiber Structures via a Robotic Dispensing System

Published on: June 12, 2015

Material Formation of Recombinant Spider Silks through Aqueous Solvation using Heat and Pressure

Material Formation of Recombinant Spider Silks through Aqueous Solvation using Heat and Pressure

Published on: May 6, 2019

Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric and Biohybrid Fibers with Predesigned Size and Shape

Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric and Biohybrid Fibers with Predesigned Size and Shape

Published on: January 8, 2014

Area of Science:

Biomaterials Engineering
Protein Self-Assembly
Silk Fibroin Science

Background:

Silk fibroin protein offers a versatile scaffold for advanced material development.
Developing methods for fabricating functional, large-scale silk-based materials remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To present simple, water-based fabrication methods for 3D silk fibroin bulk materials.
To demonstrate the ability to hybridize silk fibroin with water-soluble molecules for predesigned functions.
To showcase the programmability of silk material formats through controlled self-assembly and reshaping.

Main Methods:

Utilizing water-based protein self-assembly techniques to generate 3D silk fibroin bulk materials.
Controlling self-assembly to achieve robust, machinable formats with thermoplastic behavior.
Reshaping silk materials at nanoscale, microscale, and macroscale.

Main Results:

Successfully generated large silk monoliths with tunable properties.
Demonstrated material reshaping for creating functional mechanical components.
Integrated functionalities including nanopatterning, optical properties, on-demand heating, and colorimetric failure visualization.
Incorporated enzyme-loaded components for potential sustained release applications.

Conclusions:

The developed self-assembly approach enables the creation of versatile, functional, and programmable 3D silk fibroin materials.
These materials offer a robust platform for diverse applications, from advanced mechanical components to biologically functional devices.
The ability to reshape and functionalize bulk silk protein opens new avenues in biomaterials engineering.