Structure Design and Property of Spider silk-Inspired Shape Memory Materials

Abstract

Abstract Study on biomimetic materials inspired by natural spider silk has been a hot topic. Inspired by the shape memory behavior of spider silk, thermo-responsive shape memory polypeptide with β-sheet structure was reported, and silk fibroin with β-sheet structure is incorporated into poly(vinyl alcohol) to develop a novel water-sensitive two-way shape memory material. The β-sheet structures act as netpoints responsible for the achievement of good shape recovery ability and high shape fixity. These materials not only possess biocompatibility and nontoxicity, but also have ease to be fabricated, which will be used in many biomedical applications. This study not only provides a new idea for designing intelligent materials, expands the development of bionic and intelligent materials, but also helps to improve the establishment of shape memory theory system and lay a solid theoretical foundation for the further development of shape-memory polymer materials.