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Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Microfluidic Dry-spinning and Characterization of Regenerated Silk Fibroin Fibers
Published on: September 4, 2017
Structural analysis of silk using solid-state NMR
1Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo, 184-8588, Japan.
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Silkworms and spiders are capable of generating fibers that are both highly durable and elastic in a short span of time, using a silk solution stored within their bodies at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure. The dragline silk fiber, which is essentially a spider's lifeline, surpasses the strength of a steel wire of equivalent thickness. Regrettably, humans have yet to replicate this process to produce fibers with similar high strength and elasticity in an eco-friendly manner. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to thoroughly comprehend the extraordinary structure and fibrillation mechanism of silk, and leverage this understanding in the manufacturing of high-strength, high-elasticity fibers. This review will delve into the recent progress in comprehending the structure of silks derived from silkworms and spiders, emphasizing the distinctive attributes of solid-state NMR.
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