Methods of producing polymers of spider silk proteins

摘要

A method of producing polymers of an isolated spider silk protein consisting of from 170 to 600 amino acid residues involves providing a solution of said spider silk protein in a liquid medium at pH 6.4 or higher and/or an ion composition that prevents polymerisation of the spider silk protein. The properties of the liquid medium are adjusted to a pH of 6.3 or lower and an ion composition that allows polymerisation of the spider silk protein. The spider silk protein is allowed to form solid polymers in the liquid medium, and the resulting solid spider silk protein polymers are isolated from the liquid medium. The resulting polymers are useful as fibers, films, foams, nets or meshes.