“Silklife: Chulalongkorn Researchers’ Innovation Elevates Thai Silk” 

A new dimension of “Thai silk” is emerging as researchers from the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University develop silk protein into novel medical products—ranging from pain-relief patches and artificial tissues to injectable joint gels—helping treat patients, reduce reliance on imported medical materials, and sustainably increase income for farmers. 

At a time when Thailand’s medical industry is expanding rapidly, we still depend heavily on imported materials, a research team from the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, has sought the untapped potential of local materials and discovered a new dimension of “Thai silk.” Long recognized as a cultural heritage in the form of golden silk fabric, Thai silk is now poised to become a world-class medical material, such as dental biomaterials, injectable joint gels, and sleep-aid patches. 

Associate Professor Dr. Juthamas Ratanavaraporn, Chair of the Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, and head of the Silklife research project, explained the inspiration behind the team’s focus on Thai silk: “Our intention is to strengthen Thailand’s medical industry. While the sector is important and continues to grow, the materials used in medical products often rely on imports, whether collagen or hyaluronic acid. At the same time, locally sourced medical-grade materials are very difficult to find.” 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Juthamas has been deeply familiar with Thai silk through her research on silk protein since her doctoral studies and has continued working on Thai silk for more than 15 years, together with a team of distinguished faculty members, including Professor Dr. Siriporn Damrongsakkul and Professor Dr. Sorada Kanokpanont. 

“Thailand has natural resources and herbs of enormous value. Research should not end with publication alone but should be translated into real-world use. Therefore, research must consider every dimension from upstream to downstream, elevating quality according to international standards—from mulberry fields in Ratchaburi Province, silkworm rearing facilities, and manufacturing processes, to high-quality products used by patients.” 

As a result, the Silklife research project not only develops patented and FDA-registered medical innovations,  but also strengthens farmer livelihoods and the broader ecosystem. 

Thai Silk: Unique Properties 

Silk consists of two main proteins: fibroin, which forms the silk fiber used in textiles, and sericin, the natural silk glue often washed away or used in the cosmetics industry. The Silklife team, however, focuses on fibroin, which can be adapted into artificial tissues and drug-delivery systems. 

“Thai silk has several unique characteristics that distinguish it from foreign silk. It is the only silk in the world with a natural golden-yellow hue and a hydrophobic molecular structure, unlike Italian or Japanese silk. This special property allows it to bind effectively with hydrophobic active substances, making it suitable for delivering certain types of drugs,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Juthamas explained. 

In addition, silk fibers are naturally strong. 

“Silkworms produce protein fibers to protect themselves during the transformation from pupa to butterfly. This protein is therefore exceptionally strong, similar to spider silk, which has high tensile strength to capture prey.” 

Another crucial property is biocompatibility. 

“Fibroin is a natural protein. When it degrades in the body, it becomes amino acids that are safe and easily eliminated, leaving no harmful residues—unlike some synthetic polymers,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Juthamas said, citing animal studies in mice, rabbits, and dogs that found silk protein to be inert, with low immunogenicity, outperforming collagen, which often triggers reactions when implanted. 

Elevating Research from Upstream to Downstream 

The Silklife project does not focus solely on laboratory research but considers the
big picture and research-related impacts on the entire production ecosystem, from upstream to downstream. 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Juthamas explained that the research team established an organic silkworm farming prototype on five rai of land in Ratchaburi Province, certified under  Thailand’s organic agriculture standard (ACFS 9000) by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives for mulberry cultivation. 

“Organic production is not easy. Every factor must be controlled—from contamination-free soil and buffer zones to prevent external contamination, to the exclusive use of organic fertilizers and the careful selection of equipment free from hazardous substances.” 

She added that silkworm rearing facilities must be closed systems with year-round temperature and humidity control to ensure consistent quality regardless of season. The Silklife facility is the first and only one in Thailand certified under the Thai Agricultural Standard (TAS) 8203 and has since become a model for the Department of Sericulture. 

“Contract farmers receive training to strictly follow SOPs, including wearing lab coats and gloves to minimize contamination throughout the process.” 

Once high-quality cocoons are obtained, the next step is protein extraction, carried out at a pilot plant at the Faculty of Engineering that meets ISO 13485 standards for manufacturing quality control and ISO 10993 standards for medical product safety testing, requiring approximately six sets of animal tests. 

Upgrading standards from upstream to midstream takes about three to four years to achieve medical-grade raw materials ready for medical product manufacturing. 

Versatile Platforms: From Patches to Artificial Tissues 

The key strength of Silklife protein lies in its versatility as a “platform” that can be developed into various products. The research team began with external-use products to test safety and build confidence.   

One example is a silk-protein hydrogel skin patch, the first successfully developed product. Using silk protein as a carrier, it retains and gradually releases active ingredients such as herbal extracts for muscle pain relief over six to eight hours—unlike conventional patches that provide only hot or cold sensations. 

Another product is a CBD (hemp extract) patch for sleep support, developed as an alternative to sublingual CBD drops, which may cause drug resistance due to high dosages. The patch delivers CBD through the skin to key receptors; within 15–20 minutes, users feel relaxed and fall asleep more easily, with effects lasting throughout the night. This product is currently awaiting Thai FDA registration, with manufacturing facilities already in place. 

Manufacturing of more complexed products such as:

• Scaffolds or porous matrices that function like sponges or tissue bridges can be applied as filling material for wisdom tooth or molar extraction to enhance tissue regeneration. The material gradually degrades on its own, eliminating the need for surgical removal. The project plans to expand into root canal treatments and other artificial tissues such as bone or torn ligaments, with clinical trials scheduled for 2026. 
• Injectable joint gel is another promising innovation, suitable for early-stage joint degeneration patients. The silk gel provides cushioning, lubrication, and stimulates the body to produce its own synovial fluid. It can also be combined with bone powder or other substances, enabling diversification to numerous other products. Clinical trials is currently in the initial stage at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. 

Challenges and Strengths of the Research 

Developing silk -protein products presents many challenges, particularly scaling up to industrial production. 

“While laboratory production may yield only one liter, commercial production requires hundreds of liters with consistent quality. Shelf life is another challenge for protein products.  The team must overcome these challenges and patent the solutions. Internal-use products must undergo multi-phase clinical trials, which significantly extend production timeline before it can reach the market.” 

However, Silklife’s strength lies in its comprehensive, standardized platform, with quality control from upstream to downstream and over 15 years of accumulated research data. As a local material, its supply can be controlled, offering cost advantages over imports. 

Silklife’s work has gained recognition for elevating local materials to international standards, developing a scalable platform, and demonstrating technical expertise in formulation customization. 

“We don’t stop at one product—we can expand into tens or hundreds of products,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Juthamas discussed the project strengths. 

The project’s success stems from collaboration with multiple partners, including the Department of Sericulture, Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, hospitals and clinics, international testing centers, the Thai FDA, and private-sector partners supporting commercialization. 

Research That Creates Value for Thai Farmers 

Silklife aims not only to develop medical products but also to ensure farmer stability. 

“This project enhances farmers’ skills and knowledge, providing stable and higher income,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Juthamas said proudly. “Currently, one farming household serves as a contract-farming prototype. Instead of selling cocoons at around 1,000 baht per kilogram, participating farmers can sell medical-grade cocoons at tens of thousands of baht per kilogram.” 

This comes from added value to the process. “We want Thailand to have products like Japan—where standardized processes add value to the products, and can command higher prices. Investing in high standards is worthwhile because downstream products gain high value and can compete with imports.” 

Vision for the Future 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Juthamas said the team’s short-term goal is to bring as many products to the market as possible to build acceptance and confidence.

“When people see the array of our products, trust will follow. One day, silk protein will be viewed like collagen—widely trusted and recognized for its potential.” 

In the long run, she hopes Thai silk will be more widely used in medicine, attracting greater interest from researchers and the private sector. 

“As downstream demand grows, upstream production will increase, allowing farmers more yield and more income. Most importantly, Thailand will become more self-reliant in medical products. One day, we must use medical products produced domestically, not import everything. Without the first steps toward self-reliance, there will be no turning point.” 

Advice for the Next Generation of Researchers 

For young researchers interested in developing innovations from local materials, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Juthamas advice is that Thailand has immense natural resources and herbs of great value. Research must be conducted seriously, considering all dimensions from upstream to downstream, and adhering to international standards. Creating platform-based research that can generate multiple products makes investment worthwhile, given the tens of millions of baht required in funding, resources, and time. 

“Most importantly, research should not end only with publication. Seeing research applied in real life and collaborating with the private sector marks another level of success. Research and commercialization can go hand in hand,” she emphasized, noting that patented, commercialized products can still generate academic publications.  Buiding strong research teams spearheaded by the researchers will bring about myriads of products from indiginous resources of the country. 

From engineering laboratories at Chulalongkorn University to mulberry fields in Ratchaburi, from international journal publications to Thai FDA registration, from basic research to tangible products in everyday life—this is an example of research that integrates academic, economic, social, and environmental dimensions. It is research that “does not abandon the source and does not forget the destination,” benefiting both silkworm farmers and patients awaiting treatment, and reflecting Chulalongkorn University’s mission as a “University for Society” that does not stop at building a knowledge base but fosters concrete applications through valuable and quality research to benefit the Thai and international societies. 

For those interested in learning more about Silklife, further information is available at www.enginelife.co.th , a startup under the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Line