title: [Silk protein fiber biomaterials and tissue engineering].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the latest developments in silk protein fiber as biomaterials and their applications in tissue engineering.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recent original literature on silk protein fiber as biomaterials were reviewed, illustrating the properties of silk protein fiber biomaterials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The silk protein fiber has the same functions of supporting the cell adhesion, differentiation and growth as native collagen, and is renewed as novel biomaterials with good biocompatibility, unique mechanical properties and is degradable over a longer time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Silk protein fiber can be used as a suitable matrix for three dimensional cell culture in tissue engineering. It has a great potential applications in other fields.
authors.affiliation: College of Bioengineering, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, P. R. China 350007.
authors.forename: Jian-kun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D012831:Bombyx; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002455:Cell Division; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019476:Insect Proteins; D047011:Silk; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D019476:Insect Proteins; D047011:Silk; D003094:Collagen; D005349:Fibroins