Spectrasilk Inc develops products using silk as a material platform across multiple micro-scale and nano-scale technologies by combining the unique features of the silk protein family with technological interfaces like optics and electronics in a single material. The merging of biology and optical physics creates sophisticated, multi-functional, silk-based optical sensing systems with target focus areas in environmental detection, renewable energy, and the life sciences. The silk sensor technology platform enables the detection and monitoring of a variety of contaminants through its versatile chemistry and processing and will directly embed an advanced optical interface offering immediate and easy read out. These systems are biocompatible, disposable, degradable, consumable, and distributable. The distinctive properties offered by silk materials will be at the core of the development of innovative products that address unmet needs across several market areas. Silk fibroin possesses exciting potential for vascular graft engineering with regard to structural tailorability, chemical modification, and drug-loading potential, distinguishing silk from other synthetic and natural materials currently being studied as graft candidates. We will take advantage of the ability to control silk structure and the inherent effects on biodegradation, mechanics, drug loading and release; a graft may be produced with an unprecedented level of control over cell response.
