Fabrication and Applications of Biological Fibers

Fibers derived from processing of biological materials have long been implemented for commercial use as they are widely available from a diverse range of renewable materials. Moreover, their natural mechanical and functional properties continue to provide newfound sources of technological advancement in areas including medicine and filtration among other more traditional fields. While not only providing inspiration, the study of biological fiber formation in organisms such as spiders and silk worms has facilitated fundamental knowledge; however, this review concentrates instead on more recent artificial fabrication techniques that have been adapted for the formation of 1D (one dimensional) fibers from biological materials. In addition, we provide an extensive look at the various biological materials from the standpoint of their applications and fabrication methods. Areas encompassing the latest advancements in fiber processing techniques with respect to compositional and geometric control are discussed and provide a promising outlook of future growth in this continually growing field.