Silk fibroin (SF) is a multifunctional naturally occurring biopolymer that presented various illustrious properties like biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatile processability. Recent SF aerogel so-called AeroSF, developed by Maleki et al.
With synergistic combination of surface chemistry modification, self-assembly, together with versatile directional freeze casting of combination of SF with 2D nanostructures of GO and MXene building blocks, Dr. Maleki, and her group have developed highly porous, ultralight and ultra-flexible monoliths with nacre- mimicking structure.