2D and 3D functional nanostructures of genetically engineered spider silk using focused ION beam

Abstract

We report a new bionanomanufacturing technique for both 2d and 3d protein nano structuring using focus ion beam (FIB) as the fabrication tool and genetically engineered recombinant spider silk as the resist material. Recombinant spider silk is mechanically strong, biocompatible, biodegradable and biofunctionalizable. Precise control of genetically engineered spider silk at the nanoscale offers new route to protein-based functional nanostructures.