Unexpected strength and toughness in chitosan-fibroin laminates inspired by insect cuticle

Abstract

A material inspired by natural insect cuticle and composed of chitosan and fibroin is created. The material exhibits the strength of an aluminum alloy at half its weight, while being clear, biocompatible, biodegradable, and micromoldable. The bioinspired laminate exhibits strength and toughness that are ten times greater than the unstructured component blend and twice that of its strongest constituent. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.