Tufts University silk lab explores endless possibilities for silk innovation
New England Council member, Tufts University, announced its Department of Biomedical Engineering is pursuing a range of new projects in its Silklab. With the help of silkworms, the lab is developing various materials that will be integrated into traditional clothing, surgical implants, and other novel applications. The researchers are also developing a new underwater adhesive for shark tagging, as well as small drones that can detect COVID-19 in the environment.
“I think that the directions we pick are the most surprising, which means that they open up something fundamental, something that you’ve never seen on the surface before, versus something that could have a high impact, like early detection of breast cancer,” said Fiorenzo Omenetto, the director of the Silklab. “I think it’s nice to connect the unconnectable, so there’s maybe the magic of trying to bring what was biological into the technical world.”
In addition to the research Silklab is pursuing, it has also helped develop startups that work in silk innovation, including Sofregen, which utilizes silk to repair damaged vocal cords, and Vaxess, which develops silk microneedles for vaccine delivery.
The New England Council commends Tufts University for its groundbreaking research on silk and its significant contributions to science.
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