Advancing the frontiers of silk fibroin protein-based materials for futuristic electronics and clinical wound-healing (Invited review)

• Published in: Materials Science & Engineering C 2018-05, Vol.86, p.151-172
• Main Authors: Koh, Leng-Duei, Yeo, Jingjie, Lee, Yeong Yuh, Ong, Qunya, Han, Mingyong, Tee, Benjamin C-K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D printing; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial; Artificial muscles; Bacteria - drug effects; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - pharmacology; Biodegradable materials; Biomedical materials; Bionics; Biosensors; Cornea; Diodes; Dopamine; Electrical conductor; Electronics; Fibroins - chemistry; Fibroins - pharmacology; Field effect transistors; Humans; Light sources; Lithography; Materials science; Medical materials; Memristors; Muscles; Optoelectronics; Patterning; Polymers - chemistry; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Proteins; Pyrroles - chemistry; Semiconductor devices; Silk; Silk fibroin; Skin; Surgical implants; Technological change; Tissue engineering; Vascularization; Wound healing; Wound Healing - drug effects
• ISSN: 0928-4931; 1873-0191
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2018.01.007

The present review will introduce the basic concepts of silk-based electronics/optoelectronics including the latest technological advances on the use of silk fibroin in combination with other functional components, with an emphasis on improving the performance of next-generation silk-based materials. It also highlights the patterning of silk fibroin to produce micro/nano-scale features, as well as the functionalization of silk fibroin to impart antimicrobial (i.e. antibacterial) properties. Silk-based bioelectronics have great potential for advanced or futuristic bio-applications including e-skins, e-bandages, biosensors, wearable displays, implantable devices, artificial muscles, etc. Notably, silk-based organic field-effect transistors have highly promising applications in e-skins and biosensors; silk-based electrodes/antennas are used for in vivo bioanalysis or sensing purpose (e.g., measurement of neurotransmitter such as dopamine) in addition to their use as food sensors; silk-based diodes can be applied as light sources for wound healing or tissue engineering, e.g., in cutaneous wound closure or induction of photothrombosis of corneal neovascularization; silk-based actuators have promising applications as artificial muscles; whereas silk-based memristors have exciting applications as logic or synaptic network for realizing e-skins or bionic brains. •Basic concepts and futuristic applications of silk-based electronics•Design or performance needs of next-generation silk-based materials•Patterning of silk fibroin to produce micro/nano-scale features•3D printing of silk fibroin to produce silk structures with higher complexity•Functionalization of silk fibroin to impart antimicrobial properties