Researchers from China and the Netherlands have developed a new corn protein-based biopolymer inspired by the natural spinning process of spider silk, offering a promising sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based plastics.
The breakthrough study, published in the journal Nature Communications on May 11, demonstrates how plant-derived proteins can be transformed into high-performance biodegradable materials suitable for packaging and other industrial applications.
The international research team included scientists from,,,, and.
Inspired by the way spiders produce strong and flexible silk fibres, the scientists used a similar processing mechanism to convert zein — a protein extracted from corn — into a durable biopolymer material known as “plantymer.” The resulting fibres and films demonstrated rigidity comparable to natural silk while also showing effective moisture and oxygen barrier properties.
According to the researchers, plant-derived biopolymers have long been considered potential alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, but poor material performance has limited their commercial adoption. The newly developed spider silk-inspired processing technique significantly improves the strength and functionality of plant protein materials.
The researchers tested the zein-based films for food packaging applications and found that bananas wrapped in the material experienced reduced browning compared to unpackaged fruit. The team believes the biodegradable films could be used in a wide range of sectors, including food packaging, medical devices, and tissue engineering.
The development comes at a time when global concerns about plastic pollution and fossil fuel dependency continue to intensify. According to the United Nations, more than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally each year, with nearly half intended for single-use applications such as packaging. Less than 10 per cent of these plastics are recycled, while millions of tonnes enter waterways annually, contributing to growing environmental pollution and microplastic accumulation.
Researchers noted that plant-based biopolymers generally offer better biodegradability and biocompatibility than conventional synthetic plastics, making them particularly suitable for food-related and biomedical applications. However, challenges such as lower durability, weaker barrier performance, and inconsistent quality have slowed their large-scale commercialisation.
The scientists also examined the biodegradability of the new material under simulated natural soil conditions and found that between 60 and 80 per cent of the zein films degraded within one month, highlighting their strong environmental potential.
In addition to corn protein, the researchers stated that the same processing methodology could be applied to other abundant plant proteins, including soy and other legume-based proteins. The team believes the research provides a broader pathway for developing sustainable biodegradable films and fibres using renewable agricultural materials.
The study highlights how nature-inspired engineering approaches could play an important role in reducing reliance on traditional plastics while supporting the development of environmentally friendly materials for future industrial applications.