Robust Spines of Biopolymer Microspheres for Enhanced Adhesion

Polymeric microparticles are widely used in agriculture, food processing, biomedical and electronic industries. Their structures and surface patterns are critical in specific applications. However, assembling intricate polymeric microstructures in a simple, repeatable, and at-scale manner is challenging compared with inorganic counterparts. To address this issue, we will describe a universal, template-free approach to fabricating spiny biopolymer microspheres. Silk fibroin – a natural protein with outstanding mechanical properties, biodegradability, and biocompatibility – is selected as an example here. Silk fibroin spiny microspheres are prepared with different sizes, spine numbers, and payloads. The mechanically robust spines are analyzed and tested. The enhanced adhesion performance in agriculture and micro-robotic applications will be demonstrated.