Biosilk 521

Biosilk 521

Biosilk 521 is a 3D culture matrix for the expansion and long-term differentiation of human primary cells and a scaffold for organoid formation – Biosilk biofunctionalized with Biolaminin 521.

Benefits of Biosilk for the 3D culture of stem cells and organoids

In the Biosilk fibrillar network, oxygen, nutrients, and patterning factors can flow into the inner part of the organoid. Cells are not encapsulated. This enables long-term differentiation protocols and makes it possible to generate larger organoids with uniform cellular specialization and organization, without an increased risk of getting necrotic centers.

Biosilk is a completely defined recombinant spider silk protein matrix that is non-immunogenic and biodegradable, further facilitating its use in clinical applications.

All our matrices are chemically defined and animal origin-free, which makes them ideal substrates for each level of the scientific process – from basic research to clinical applications.

Biosilk can self-assemble into a microfibrous network, such as foams. Due to its favorable functional and mechanical properties, Biosilk can support extensive cellular remodeling, self-organization, and morphogenesis.

3D models are pursued to reproduce the way cells grow and interact with each other and the microenvironment in native tissues. To provide proper microenvironmental contacts and support correct cell phenotype, Biolaminin isoforms can be added into different organoid culture systems. Especially, the Biosilk 3D network can be easily biofunctionalized with Biolaminin isoforms and other extracellular matrix proteins. This results in a more tissue-like microenvironment in which the integrin-involved attachment to the Biosilk fibers gives the cells an elongated shape, with organized cytoskeletons and the formation of defined focal adhesion points. Increased biological relevance increases the chances of capturing robust and applicable experimental and pre-clinical results.

Simple to use – no special equipment needed

This video describes how to generate Biosilk 3D foam scaffolds for the expansion and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells.

Biosilk is made of recombinant silk protein

Biosilk fibers consist of shorter versions of spider silk protein, spidroins, which are biofunctionalized with an RGD-containing motif sequence. Biosilk 521 is Biosilk supplemented with Biolaminin 521 – the full-length recombinant laminin-521 substrate. Biolaminin tunes the silk fibers into a biorelevant scaffold, enabling the effective culture of several types of cells and organoids.


  • 3D culture

    Biosilk and Biolaminin key advantages 3D cell culture and organoid formation 3D culture systems for disease modeling, drug screening, and […]
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  • Pluripotent stem cells

    Biorelevant culture of human ES and iPS cells on Biolaminin substrates Biolaminin 521 successfully replicates the genuine human stem cell niche […]
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  • Neural cells

    Biorelevant culture of neural cells on Biolaminin substrates Laminins are widely expressed in the nervous system and are essential for […]
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  • Skin cells

    Biorelevant culture of keratinocytes on Biolaminin substrates The basement membrane composition in the epidermis Human epidermal keratinocyte (HEK) cells are […]
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  • Pancreatic cells

    Biorelevant culture of pancreatic cells on Biolaminin substrates The basement membrane formed next to the beta-cells contains alpha-4 and alpha-5 laminin […]
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  • Intestinal cells

    Biorelevant culture of intestinal cells on Biolaminin substrates Laminin expression in the intestine The small intestine contains mucosal epithelial invaginations called […]
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  • Hepatocytes and hepatoblasts

    Biorelevant culture of liver cells on Biolaminin substrates Several laminins play a vital role in liver progenitor cell-mediated regeneration The […]
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  • Eye cells

    Biorelevant culture of eye cells Laminin proteins are important components in the eye microenvironment Biolaminin products have been succesfully used […]
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Assembly of FN-silk with laminin-521 to integrate hPSCs into a three-dimensional culture for neural differentiation

Åstrand C , Chotteau V , Falk A , Hedhammar M

Biomaterials science, 2020

Assembly of functionalized silk together with cells to obtain proliferative 3D cultures integrated in a network of ECM-like microfibers

Johansson U, Widhe M, Shalaly ND, Arregui IL, Nilebäck L, Tasiopoulos CP, Åstrand C, Berggren PO, Gasser C, Hedhammar M.

Scientific reports, 2019

Biological responses to spider silk-antibiotic fusion protein

Gomes S, Gallego-Llamas J, Leonor IB, Mano JF, Reis RL, Kaplan DL.

J Tissue Eng Regen Med, 2017