Silk-inorganic composite materials with programmed mechanics

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We aim at understanding the complex interplay of structure and constituent's mechanical properties of fibrous proteins and at engineering of novel proteins as a basis for advanced composite materials. We will form hydrogels by using recombinantly produced and engineered spider silk proteins, which can be controlled on molecular scale for building complex functional structures. This robust system allows producing artificial materials like (bulk) gels and, using microfluidics for process control, even gel-microparticles. These will further serve as templates for assembly of inorganic materials, which will consequently "inherit" the structure and at the same time give raise to mechanical reinforcement and novel functional properties. Mechanical and structural characterization on all length scales of the hierarchy using microscopy, electronmicroscopy, SAXS, micro-rheology and nanomechanical AFM-based characterization will allow separating the influence on structure and elastic properties of the constituting materials. In consequence, our joint effort will allow controlling and characterizing the system from molecular to macroscopic scale.