Abstract: The present invention relates to a biopolymer having excellent tensile strength, extensibility and toughness. The present invention further relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding the biopolymer of the invention, a vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of the invention and a non-human host transformed with the vector of the invention. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods for producing a biopolymer of the invention and to foams, films, gels, coatings, particles, capsules, springs or nonwoven mats as well as fibres comprising or consisting of the biopolymer of the invention. The present invention also relates to a method of producing fibres and the biopolymer of the invention for use in medicine, agriculture, cosmetics as well as surface, paper, leather and/or textile processing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing nano- and microcapsules from spider silk proteins The invention is further directed to nano- or microcapsules obtainable by this method as well as pharmaceutical, cosmetical and food compositions containing same.