Surface modification and functionalization of silk fibroin fibers/fabric toward high performance applications

Silk from silkworms is composed of fibrous proteins with remarkable properties that have resulted in wide usage in the textile industry and as a biomaterial in the medical field. However, for some advanced applications, silk still has the disadvantages of wrinkling, photo-induced aging, deformation and even degradation caused by microorganism, biocompatibility problems. Based on sufficient supply of raw materials around the world and encouraged by the market demands for natural and smart materials, numerous attempts have been made in the surface modification and functionalization of silk fibroin fibers (SFFs) and silk fibroin fabric (SFF) using a wide range of functional materials and technology during last decade. Successful modification of silk may not only overcome its intrinsic shortcomings, but also enhance end-use performance. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of basic ideas, methodologies, and treatment techniques for surface modification and functionalization of SFF/SFFs with consideration of their enhanced properties and potential applications. Encouraged by achievements from experimental studies, the authors believe that such successes give silk products a promising future in both textile and biomaterial applications.