Silk Proteins – Functional Biomaterials and Medical Applications

August 28, 2020 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Dr. David Kaplan
Tufts University

ABSTRACT: Silk is one of the oldest biomaterials, utilized as sutures for centuries, yet undergoing a rebirth into new Biomaterial formats and applications. Key to this recent emergence has been fundamental insight into mechanisms of self-assembly of this unique, high molecular weight, amphiphilic protein, along with new modes to modify the native protein using processing methods, chemistries and bioengineering approaches. Some of these strategies will be discussed related to fundamental aspects of controlling biomaterial structure and function. The utility of some of these new silk-based biomaterials in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine will also be discussed, where exploitation of silk processing can be used to modulate biological responses, mechanics, degradation lifetime and biological utility in vitro and in vivo.

BIOGRAPHY: David Kaplan is the Stern Family Endowed Professor of Engineering at Tufts University, Distinguished University Professor, and Professor and Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. His research focus is on biopolymer engineering and on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. His lab has published over 900 peer reviewed papers, he is the editor-in-chief of ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, and he serves on many editorial boards and programs for journals and universities. He has received awards for teaching, Elected Fellow American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, and received the Society for Biomaterials Clemson Award for contributions to the literature.