Bombyx mori Silk Fibers: An Outstanding Family of Materials

Designing novel multifunctional materials from natural resources is a challenging goal that has increasingly attracted researchers. Recently, the great potential of silk fibers has been recognized. The target readers for this review are researchers from different backgrounds (i.e., non‐specialists in silk research) with special interests on the physical–chemical characterization of silk fibers, since their knowledge is crucial for the improvement of existent silk‐based biomaterials and the basis for the development of new products. Examples of usual applications of Bombyx mori silk fibers are given and some of the most recent and exciting progress in new technological fields, is presented. Targeting readers from different backgrounds, this review overviews some basic aspects of silk science and focuses less debated aspects of the physical–chemical characterization of Bombyx mori silk fibers. A selection of figures of merit of usual applications and some of the most recent and exciting progress in new technological fields, such as optics, photonics, and electronics, are presented.