This topic was featured in a lecture by Matjaž Gregorič, PhD, from the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
The lecturer presented, on the one hand, how researchers seek to understand the evolutionary importance of spider silk from the molecular level to the use of such silk in building high-capacity webs, and on the other hand, how spider silk has extraordinary potential as a biomaterial for human use due do its wide range of intriguing mechanical properties.
Although the routine use of spider silk has not been achieved yet for any purpose, this dynamic field promises to be useful in practically all spheres of human life – from direct use of the material and making new chimeric biomaterials to enhancing synthetic materials and inventing new ones.
Lecture: Matjaž Gregorič, PhD, Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology, SAZU Research Centre
Moderator: Taja Klemen, Faculty of Education, Centre KemikUm