Recombinant Spider Silk Protein-Based Fibers for Biomedicine: Spinning, Structure–Property Relationships, and Emerging Applications

Abstract

Spider silk is an archetypal high-performance protein fiber that combines outstanding toughness with biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, the large-scale harvesting of native spidroins remains impractical. Recombinant spider silk proteins (rSSPs) offer a scalable and engineerable alternative to access spidroin-inspired building blocks with tunable sequences, modular architectures, and biofunctionality. Here, we review current rSSP production platforms. From a fiber-centric perspective, we summarize how key processing parameters—such as dope formulation, shear/elongational flow, ion–pH gradients, and post-drawing—govern self-assembly. We explain how these secondary-structure transitions ultimately dictate the hierarchical microstructure and mechanical performance of the fibers. Furthermore, we highlight recent advances in the bioinspired spinning of rSSP fibers and the expansion into fiber-derived formats (e.g., nonwovens, membranes, hydrogels, particles, and porous scaffolds) that leverage textile manufacturability and interfacial design for biomedical applications. Representative applications are systematically categorized into three parallel domains: surgical closures and wound dressings, controlled drug-delivery systems, and tissue engineering, where distinct rSSP architectures and functionalities are explicitly tailored to the regenerative demands of specific organs. Finally, we outline key challenges for translation, including high-yield production of high-molecular-weight spidroins, robust structure–property–function profiling, sterilization stability, and pathways toward scalable manufacturing. Ultimately, this review aims to bridge molecular design, fiber processing, and the biomedical implementation of rSSP-based materials.

Graphical Abstract

Schematic overview of spider silk types and representative spidroins, the recombinant production of recombinant spider silk proteins (rSSPs) in representative host systems, and their spinning/processing into fibers and fiber-derived material formats for emerging biomedical applications.

Keywords

Recombinant spider silk proteins / Spidroins / Bioinspired spinning / Fiber processing / Structure–property relationship / Biomedical fibers

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(32360860)

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(SWU-KF25005)

Venture and Innovation Support Program for Chongqing Overseas Returnees(cx2024003)

Academician Foundation Program of Chongqing(cstb2023yszx-jcx0003)

Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing(cstc2021jcyj-cxttX0005)

National High-level Personnel of Special Support Program

FCT VAGOME project(n.º 15573)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Donghua University, Shanghai, China