<DIV>Silk is environmentally friendly, produced with few chemicals, and a luxurious fabric with unique qualities of softness and warmth. Primarily made of proteins, it is close in composition to the human skin, making it extremely comfortable to wear. Recent developments including the blending of silk with nonwovens and the production of spider silks are renewing interest in this important fabric. This book is a comprehensive overview of silk production, properties and structure property relationships, with a chapter discussing potential applications of silk in the biomedical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.</div>