Bees’ Silk Breakthrough: Lab‑Produced Bee Silk unlocks new biomaterial avenues
Scientists have developed a non-invasive lab method to produce solitary-bee silk by raising larvae in a 3D-printed nest, extracting silk fibers from the larva’s mouth, and using engineered microbes to output silk proteins (fibroins) that are cast into films. This first demonstration with Osmia lignaria cocoons the silk’s protective, breathable properties in a lab-friendly material, with potential biomedical applications (sutures, scaffolds) and possibilities for blending bee silk with hagfish slime to enhance performance.