Bioengineers Inch Closer to Creating Silk Stronger Than Steel

Genetic modifications allow silkworms to spin spider-silk-like fibers, with potential for revolutionary medical and materials applications.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Researchers have made significant progress in engineering silk that rivals the strength and flexibility of natural spider silk, a long-sought goal. By genetically modifying silkworms to incorporate spider DNA, companies like Kraig Biocraft Laboratories have created a 'supersilk' that is six times tougher than Kevlar. While not quite matching the properties of pure spider silk, this scalable material shows promise for transformative uses in medicine, healthcare, and materials science.

Why it matters

The ability to mass-produce a silk-based material with the strength and flexibility of spider silk could lead to revolutionary breakthroughs, from lightweight bulletproof vests to targeted drug delivery systems. Unlocking the secrets of spider silk's molecular structure has also advanced the understanding of protein engineering, opening new frontiers in biomaterials.

The details

Researchers have been working for decades to replicate the unique properties of spider silk, which is five times stronger than steel by weight. By inserting spider DNA into silkworms, companies like Kraig Biocraft Laboratories have created a 'supersilk' that, while not quite as strong as pure spider silk, is still six times tougher than Kevlar. This hybrid silk can be mass-produced, overcoming a key challenge that has stymied previous efforts to commercialize spider silk.

  • In the 1980s and 1990s, researchers like Fritz Vollrath and Randy Lewis conducted studies quantifying the tensile strength of spider silk.
  • In the 2010s, the development of CRISPR technology enabled scientists to more precisely insert spider DNA into silkworms.
  • Kraig Biocraft Laboratories' genetically modified silkworms are currently housed at a research center in Lansing, Michigan.

The players

Fiorenzo Omenetto

Director of the Silklab at Tufts University, who has described spider silk as 'the stuff of superheroes' due to its remarkable properties.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories

A biotech firm that has made breakthroughs in manufacturing spider silk-like fibers by genetically modifying silkworms.

Wenbo Hu

A spider silk expert at Southwest University in central China who says the goal is to 'mimic, and eventually surpass, the performance of natural spider silk.'

Kim Thompason

The founder and CEO of Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, who notes that the company's 'supersilk' is 'stronger and more flexible' than regular silk, even if it doesn't quite match pure spider silk.

Xingmei Qi

A researcher at Soochow University who studies spider silk-based therapeutics, noting that what 'once seemed nearly impossible is now becoming technically and economically feasible.'

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What they’re saying

“This material is not gonna stop a 747, but it's better than regular silk. It's stronger and more flexible.”

— Kim Thompason, Founder and CEO, Kraig Biocraft Laboratories (National Geographic)

“Beyond fabric, recombinant spider silk proteins can be processed into diverse forms—films, hydrogels, sponges, microcapsules, and nanoparticles. What once seemed nearly impossible is now becoming technically and economically feasible.”

— Xingmei Qi, Researcher, Soochow University (National Geographic)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This breakthrough in bioengineering silk that rivals the strength and flexibility of natural spider silk holds immense promise for transformative applications in medicine, healthcare, and materials science. While the 'supersilk' is not yet a perfect match for pure spider silk, the ability to mass-produce this material represents a major step forward that could lead to revolutionary innovations, from targeted drug delivery to lightweight body armor.