This disclosure relates to an invitro gut model, including an integral layer of intestinal epithelial cells, an artificial
mucus atop the integral layer of intestinal epithelial cells, wherein the artificial
mucus comprises a silk
glycopolymer and optionally a silk
polymer lacking
sugar substituents, the artificial
mucus having a
degree of substitution of the silk
glycopolymer, a location of substitution of the silk
glycopolymer, a concentration of the silk glycopolymer, an overall
polymer concentration, an overall silk
polymer concentration, an optional concentration of the silk polymer lacking
sugar substituents, an optional ratio by weight of the silk glycopolymer and the silk polymer lacking
sugar substituents, and / or a silk glycopolymer silk backbone molecular weight is tailored to maintain the integral layer of intestinal epithelial cells for a predetermined length of time, and growth media accessible to the intestinal epithelial cells and tailored to maintain viability of the intestinal epithelial cells.