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Hopfe C, Ospina-Jara B, Schulze T, Tischer M, Morales D, Reinhartz V, Esfahani RE, Valderrama C, Pérez-Rigueiro J, Bleidorn C, Feldhaar H, Cabra-García J, Scheibel T. Impact of environmental factors on spider silk properties. Curr Biol 2024; 34:56-67.e5. [PMID: 38118450 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.11.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Spider orb webs have evolved to stop flying prey, fast and slow alike. One of the main web elements dissipating impact energy is the radial fibers, or major ampullate silks, which possess a toughness surpassing most man-made materials. Orb webs are extended phenotypes, and as such their architectural elements, including major ampullate silks, have been selected to optimize prey capture under the respective environmental conditions. In this study, we investigated the correlation of three landscape scales and three microhabitat characteristics with intrinsic silk properties (elastic modulus, yield stress, tensile strength, extensibility, and toughness) to understand underlying ecological patterns. For this purpose, we collected and mechanically tested major ampullate silks from 50 spider species inhabiting large altitudinal and climatic gradients in Colombia. Using regression analysis and model selection, we investigated the environmental drivers of inter- and intra-specific patterns of major ampullate silk properties, taking into account phylogenetic relatedness based on newly sequenced mitochondrial genomes. We found that the total amount of energy absorbed, i.e., toughness and tensile strength, is higher for fibers from species inhabiting regions where heavy rainfall is common. Interestingly, we observe the same general trend between individuals of the same species, stressing the importance of this environmental driver. We also observe a phylogenetic conservation in the relation of environmental variables with silk tensile strength and yield stress. In conclusion, the increase in major ampullate silk tensile strength and toughness may reflect an adaptation to prevent frequent rain damage to orb webs and the associated energetic loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Hopfe
- Department of Biomaterials, Universität Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Str. 1, Bayreuth 95447, Germany.
| | - Bryan Ospina-Jara
- Department of Biology, Universidad del Valle, Cl. 13 #100-00, Cali 760042, Colombia
| | - Thilo Schulze
- Department of Animal Evolution and Biodiversity, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, Göttingen 37073, Germany
| | - Marta Tischer
- Department of Animal Evolution and Biodiversity, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, Göttingen 37073, Germany
| | - Diego Morales
- Department of Biology, Universidad del Valle, Cl. 13 #100-00, Cali 760042, Colombia
| | - Vivien Reinhartz
- Department of Biomaterials, Universität Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Str. 1, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
| | - Rashin Eshghi Esfahani
- Department of Biomaterials, Universität Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Str. 1, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
| | - Carlos Valderrama
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Rosario, Cl. 12c #6-25, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - José Pérez-Rigueiro
- Center for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Crta. M40, Madrid 28223, Spain; Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/Prof. Aranguren 3, Madrid 28040, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid 28029, Spain; Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), C/ Prof. Martín Lagos s/n, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Christoph Bleidorn
- Department of Animal Evolution and Biodiversity, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, Göttingen 37073, Germany
| | - Heike Feldhaar
- Department of Animal Ecology I, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, Bayreuth 95440, Germany
| | - Jimmy Cabra-García
- Department of Biology, Universidad del Valle, Cl. 13 #100-00, Cali 760042, Colombia
| | - Thomas Scheibel
- Department of Biomaterials, Universität Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Str. 1, Bayreuth 95447, Germany; Bayreuther Zentrum für Kolloide und Grenzflächen, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, Bayreuth 95440, Germany; Bayreuther Materialzentrum, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, Bayreuth 95440, Germany; Bayreuther Zentrum für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, Bayreuth 95440, Germany; Bayrisches Polymerinstitut, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, Bayreuth 95440, Germany.
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2
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Wilczek G, Surmiak-Stalmach K, Morenc M, Niemiec-Cyganek A, Rost-Roszkowska M, Karcz J, Skowronek M. The effect of ingested copper on the structural and cytotoxic properties of Steatoda grossa (Theridiidae) spider silk. ZOOLOGY 2024; 162:126143. [PMID: 38218003 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2024.126143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Spiders, assigned to macroconcentrators of heavy metals, are particularly threatened by the toxic effects of these chemicals. Until now, it has not been specified to what extent metals alter the processes proceeding in silk glands and if such changes could consequently influence the chemical and structural properties of the spun web threads. In the present study selected biological properties of Steatoda grossa (Theridiidae) silk yarn after nutritional exposure to copper at sublethal doses (0.234 mM CuSO4) were assessed. It was determined both changes in ultrastructure of ampullate glands and hunting web's architecture as well the cytotoxic effect in model cells (fibroblasts: line ATCC® CCL-1 NCTC clone 929), that were in contact with the analyzed biomaterial. The exposure of spiders to copper caused the occurrence of apoptotic cells in the ampullate glands as well as a significant reduction in the diameter of single fibers in double and multiple connection complexes as compared with control. At both 24 and 72 h of incubation, intensification of apoptotic and necrotic processes was observed in the fibroblast cultures that were remaining in indirect contact with the webs produced by copper-contaminated individuals. In the case of fibroblasts in direct contact with silk from the copper group, a clear cytotoxic effect resulting in an increased frequency of necrosis was observed after 72 h of incubation. The results indicated that copper may change the biological properties of spider silk and compromise its biomaterial properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grażyna Wilczek
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
| | - Kinga Surmiak-Stalmach
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Morenc
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland; Prof. Zbigniew Religa Foundation of Cardiac Surgery Development, Wolności 345a, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland
| | | | - Magdalena Rost-Roszkowska
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Jagna Karcz
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Magdalena Skowronek
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
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3
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Momeni Bashusqeh S, Pugno NM. Development of mechanically-consistent coarse-grained molecular dynamics model: case study of mechanics of spider silk. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19316. [PMID: 37935753 PMCID: PMC10630411 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46376-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding mechanics of spider silk holds immense importance due to its potential to drive innovation in the development of materials with exceptional mechanical characteristics suited for a wide range of applications. Coarse-grained (CG) molecular simulations plays a particularly valuable role in this endeavor, allowing for the efficient investigation of spider silk's mechanical properties. Our research is centered on the examination of spider silk, which comprises major ampullate silk protein (MaSp1). To achieve this, we developed a CG molecular dynamics model. Our investigation began with a focus on MaSp1 chains subjected to uniaxial tensile load, with comparisons made between the CG model results and all-atom simulations. Subsequently, we extended our simulations to encompass more extensive systems, including fully-ordered MaSp1 bundles undergoing uniaxial static stretching. Through comparison with existing literature, we assess how well the CG model reproduces the mechanical properties of spider silk in highly ordered structures. Furthermore, we explored a scenario where MaSp1 bundles were randomly positioned and stretched, providing valuable insights into silk behavior when the initial structure lacks order. Another simulation involved random positioning, but with some degree of orientation in the loading direction, allowing for a closer examination of the initial structure's influence.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Momeni Bashusqeh
- Laboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta Materials and Mechanics, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - N M Pugno
- Laboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta Materials and Mechanics, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123, Trento, Italy.
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK.
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4
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Zhang Y, Zhang C, Wang R, Tan W, Gu Y, Yu X, Zhu L, Liu L. Development and challenges of smart actuators based on water-responsive materials. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:5725-5741. [PMID: 35904079 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00519k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Water-responsive (WR) materials, due to their controllable mechanical response to humidity without energy actuation, have attracted lots of attention to the development of smart actuators. WR material-based smart actuators can transform natural humidity to a required mechanical motion and have been widely used in various fields, such as soft robots, micro-generators, smart building materials, and textiles. In this paper, the development of smart actuators based on different WR materials has been reviewed systematically. First, the properties of different biological WR materials and the corresponding actuators are summarized, including plant materials, animal materials, and microorganism materials. Additionally, various synthetic WR materials and their related applications in smart actuators have also been introduced in detail, including hydrophilic polymers, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, and other synthetic materials. Finally, the challenges of the WR actuator are analyzed from the three perspectives of actuator design, control methods, and compatibility, and the potential solutions are also discussed. This paper may be useful for the development of not only soft actuators that are based on WR materials, but also smart materials applied to renewable energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Zhang
- School of Automation and Electrical Engineering, Shenyang Ligong University, Shenyang 110159, Liaoning, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110169, China
| | - Chuang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110169, China
| | - Ruiqian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110169, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wenjun Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110169, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yanyu Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110169, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China
| | - Xiaobin Yu
- School of Automation and Electrical Engineering, Shenyang Ligong University, Shenyang 110159, Liaoning, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110169, China
| | - Lizhong Zhu
- School of Automation and Electrical Engineering, Shenyang Ligong University, Shenyang 110159, Liaoning, China.
| | - Lianqing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110169, China
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5
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Pena-Francesch A, Jung H, Tyagi M, Demirel MC. Diffusive Dynamic Modes of Recombinant Squid Ring Teeth Proteins by Neutron Spectroscopy. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:3165-3173. [PMID: 35767422 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive structural proteins are emerging as promising biocompatible materials for a wide range of biological and nonbiological applications. To understand the physical properties of structural proteins and to replicate their performance in biosynthetic systems, there is a need to understand the molecular mechanisms and relationships that regulate their structure, dynamics, and properties. Here, we study the dynamics of a recombinant squid-inspired protein from Loligo vulgaris (Lv18) by elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) to understand the connection between nanostructure, chain dynamics, and mechanical properties. Lv18 is a semicrystalline structural protein, which is plasticized by water above its glass transition temperature at 35 °C. Elastic scans revealed an increased protein chain mobility upon hydration, superimposed dynamic processes, and a decrease in dynamic transition temperatures. Further analysis by QENS revealed that while dry Lv18 protein dynamics are dominated by localized methyl group rotations, hydrated Lv18 dynamics are dominated by the confined diffusion of flexible chains within a β-sheet nanocrystalline network (8 Å of confinement radius). Our findings establish a relationship between the segment block architecture of Lv18, the diffusive motions within the protein structure, and the mechanical properties of recombinant squid proteins, which will advance the molecular design of novel high-performance protein-inspired materials with tailored dynamics and mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdon Pena-Francesch
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.,Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Huihun Jung
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Madhusudan Tyagi
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Melik C Demirel
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.,Materials Research Institute, and Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
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6
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Cohen N, Eisenbach CD. Humidity-Driven Supercontraction and Twist in Spider Silk. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2022; 128:098101. [PMID: 35302814 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.128.098101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Spider silk is a protein material that exhibits extraordinary and nontrivial properties such as the ability to soften, decrease in length (i.e., supercontract), and twist upon exposure to high humidity. These behaviors stem from a unique microstructure in combination with a transition from glassy to rubbery as a result of humidity-driven diffusion of water. In this Letter we propose four length scales that govern the mechanical response of the silk during this transition. In addition, we develop a model that describes the microstructural evolution of the spider silk thread and explains the response due to the diffusion of water molecules. The merit of the model is demonstrated through an excellent agreement to experimental findings. The insights from this Letter can be used as a microstructural design guide to enable the development of new materials with unique spiderlike properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noy Cohen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Claus D Eisenbach
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA and Institute for Polymer Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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7
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Li C, Wu J, Shi H, Xia Z, Sahoo JK, Yeo J, Kaplan DL. Fiber-Based Biopolymer Processing as a Route toward Sustainability. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2105196. [PMID: 34647374 PMCID: PMC8741650 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202105196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Some of the most abundant biomass on earth is sequestered in fibrous biopolymers like cellulose, chitin, and silk. These types of natural materials offer unique and striking mechanical and functional features that have driven strong interest in their utility for a range of applications, while also matching environmental sustainability needs. However, these material systems are challenging to process in cost-competitive ways to compete with synthetic plastics due to the limited options for thermal processing. This results in the dominance of solution-based processing for fibrous biopolymers, which presents challenges for scaling, cost, and consistency in outcomes. However, new opportunities to utilize thermal processing with these types of biopolymers, as well as fibrillation approaches, can drive renewed opportunities to bridge this gap between synthetic plastic processing and fibrous biopolymers, while also holding sustainability goals as critical to long-term successful outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Junqi Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Haoyuan Shi
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853, USA
| | - Zhiyu Xia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Jugal Kishore Sahoo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Jingjie Yeo
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853, USA
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
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8
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Cohen N, Du C, Wu ZL. Understanding the Dissociation of Hydrogen Bond Based Cross-Links In Hydrogels Due to Hydration and Mechanical Forces. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c01927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Noy Cohen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion─Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Cong Du
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Zi Liang Wu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
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9
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Ambient Climate Influences Anti-Adhesion between Biomimetic Structured Foil and Nanofibers. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11123222. [PMID: 34947571 PMCID: PMC8707556 DOI: 10.3390/nano11123222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Due to their uniquely high surface-to-volume ratio, nanofibers are a desired material for various technical applications. However, this surface-to-volume ratio also makes processing difficult as van der Waals forces cause nanofibers to adhere to virtually any surface. The cribellate spider Uloborus plumipes represents a biomimetic paragon for this problem: these spiders integrate thousands of nanofibers into their adhesive capture threads. A comb on their hindmost legs, termed calamistrum, enables the spiders to process the nanofibers without adhering to them. This anti-adhesion is due to a rippled nanotopography on the calamistrum. Via laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS), these nanostructures can be recreated on artificial surfaces, mimicking the non-stickiness of the calamistrum. In order to advance the technical implementation of these biomimetic structured foils, we investigated how climatic conditions influence the anti-adhesive performance of our surfaces. Although anti-adhesion worked well at low and high humidity, technical implementations should nevertheless be air-conditioned to regulate temperature: we observed no pronounced anti-adhesive effect at temperatures above 30 °C. This alteration between anti-adhesion and adhesion could be deployed as a temperature-sensitive switch, allowing to swap between sticking and not sticking to nanofibers. This would make handling even easier.
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10
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Knapczyk-Korczak J, Stachewicz U. Biomimicking spider webs for effective fog water harvesting with electrospun polymer fibers. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:16034-16051. [PMID: 34581383 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr05111c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Fog is an underestimated source of water, especially in regions where conventional methods of water harvesting are impossible, ineffective, or challenging for low-cost water resources. Interestingly, many novel methods and developments for effective water harvesting are inspired by nature. Therefore, in this review, we focused on one of the most researched and developing forms of electrospun polymer fibers, which successfully imitate many fascinating natural materials for instance spider webs. We showed how fiber morphology and wetting properties can increase the fog collection rate, and also observed the influence of fog water collection parameters on testing their efficiency. This review summarizes the current state of the art on water collection by fibrous meshes and offers suggestions for the testing of new designs under laboratory conditions by classifying the parameters already reported in experimental set-ups. This is extremely important, as fog collection under laboratory conditions is the first step toward creating a new water harvesting technology. This review summarizes all the approaches taken so far to develop the most effective water collection systems based on electrospun polymer fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Knapczyk-Korczak
- AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Urszula Stachewicz
- AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland.
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11
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Cohen N, Levin M, Eisenbach CD. On the Origin of Supercontraction in Spider Silk. Biomacromolecules 2021; 22:993-1000. [PMID: 33481568 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Spider silk is a protein material that exhibits extraordinary and nontrivial properties such as the ability to soften and decrease its length by up to ∼60% upon exposure to high humidity. This process is commonly called supercontraction and is the result of a transition from a highly oriented glassy phase to a disoriented rubbery phase. In this work, we derive a microscopically motivated and energy-based model that captures the underlying mechanisms that give rise to supercontraction. We propose that the increase in relative humidity and the consequent wetting of a spider silk have two main consequences: (1) the dissociation of hydrogen bonds and (2) the swelling of the fiber. From a mechanical viewpoint, the first consequence leads to the formation of rubbery domains. This process is associated with an entropic gain and a loss of orientation of chains in the silk network, which motivates the contraction of the spider silk. The swelling of the fiber is accompanied by the extension of chains in order to accommodate the influx of water molecules. Supercontraction occurs when the first consequence is more dominant than the second. The model presented in this work allows us to qualitatively track the transition of the chains from glassy to rubbery states and determine the increase in entropy, the loss of orientation, and the swelling as the relative humidity increases. We also derive explicit expressions for the stiffness and the mechanical response of a spider silk under given relative humidity conditions. To illustrate the merit of this model, we show that the model is capable of capturing several experimental findings. The insights from this work can be used as a microstructural design guide to enable the development of new materials with unique spider-like properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noy Cohen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Michal Levin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Claus D Eisenbach
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States.,Institute for Polymer Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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12
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Hu L, Chen Q, Yao J, Shao Z, Chen X. Structural Changes in Spider Dragline Silk after Repeated Supercontraction-Stretching Processes. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:5306-5314. [PMID: 33206498 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Spider dragline silk is well-known for its excellent combination of strength and extensibility as well as another unique property called supercontraction. In our previous work, the changes in conformations of the Nephila edulis spider dragline silk when subjected to different supercontraction processes were extensively investigated. When a native spider dragline silk had free supercontraction, and then restretched to its original length, the content and molecular orientation of different conformations (β-sheet, helix, and random coil) changed but the mechanical properties remained almost the same. Therefore, herein, further supercontraction-stretching treatment was performed up to three cycles, and the corresponding structural changes were investigated. In addition to the synchrotron radiation FTIR (S-FTIR) microspectroscopy employed in our previous study, synchrotron radiation small-angle X-ray scattering (S-SAXS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were also used in this work to determine the structural changes of spider dragline silk in different scales. The results show that by repeating the supercontraction-stretching treatment, the β-sheet structure content in spider dragline silk was slightly increased, but its orientation degree remained almost the same. Also, with the increase in cycle of supercontraction-stretching treatments, a 10.5 nm long period perpendicular to the silk fiber axis gradually appeared, endowing the spider dragline silk with periodic structure both along (6.6 nm, already existed in native silk and did not change with the supercontraction-stretching treatment) and perpendicular to the silk fiber axis. After the third supercontraction-stretching cycle, the AFM images displayed a clear 210 nm × 80 nm corn kernel-like structure on the surface of nanofibrils in spider dragline silks, which may be related to the aggregation of 10.5 nm × 6.6 nm periodic structure observed via S-SAXS. Finally, although the structure of spider dragline silk became increasingly regular with the rise in supercontraction-stretching cycles, mechanical properties remained constant after every cycle of the supercontraction-stretching treatment. These findings can aid in further understanding the structural changes that are related to the supercontraction of spider dragline silk and provide useful guidance in fabrication of high-performance regenerated or artificial silk fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linli Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianying Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinrong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengzhong Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
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13
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Piorkowski D, Liao CP, Joel AC, Wu CL, Doran N, Blamires SJ, Pugno NM, Tso IM. Adhesion of spider cribellate silk enhanced in high humidity by mechanical plasticization of the underlying fiber. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2020; 114:104200. [PMID: 33214109 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.104200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The disruptive nature of water presents a significant challenge when designing synthetic adhesives that maintain functionality in wet conditions. However, many animal adhesives can withstand high humidity or underwater conditions, and some are even enhanced by them. An understudied mechanism in such systems is the influence of material plasticization by water to induce adhesive work through deformation. Cribellate silk is a dry adhesive used by particular spiders to capture moving prey. It presents as a candidate for testing the water plasticization model as it can remain functional at high humidity despite lacking an aqueous component. We performed herein tensile and adhesion tests on cribellate threads from the spider, Hickmania troglodytes; a spider that lives within wet cave environments. We found that the work of adhesion of its cribellate threads increased as the axial fibre deformed during pull-off experiments. This effect was enhanced when the silk was wetted and as spider body size increased. Dry threads on the other hand were stiff with low adhesion. We rationalized our experiments by a series of scaling law models. We concluded that these cribellate threads operate best when the nanofibrils and axial fibers both contribute to adhesion. Design of future synthetic materials could draw inspiration from how water facilitates, rather than diminishes, cribellate silk adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota Piorkowski
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, 40704, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Pan Liao
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, 40704, Taiwan; Department of Biology, National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Anna-Christin Joel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Institute of Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Chung-Lin Wu
- Center for Measurement Standards, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | | | - Sean J Blamires
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicola M Pugno
- Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Bionic, Nano Meta Materials & Mechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, I-38123, Trento, Italy; School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University, Mile End Rd, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - I-Min Tso
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, 40704, Taiwan; Center for Tropical Ecology and Biodiversity, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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14
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Dong Q, Fang G, Huang Y, Hu L, Yao J, Shao Z, Ling S, Chen X. Effect of stress on the molecular structure and mechanical properties of supercontracted spider dragline silks. J Mater Chem B 2020; 8:168-176. [PMID: 31789330 DOI: 10.1039/c9tb02032b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Supercontraction is one of the most interesting properties of spider dragline silks. In this study, changes in the secondary structures of the Nephila edulis spider dragline silk after it was subjected to different supercontraction processes were investigated by integrating synchrotron Fourier transform infrared (S-FTIR) microspectroscopy and mechanical characterization. The results showed that after free supercontraction, the β-sheet lost most of its orientation, while the helix and random coils were almost totally disordered. Interestingly, by conducting different types of supercontractions (i.e., stretching of the free supercontracted spider dragline silk to its original length or performing constrained supercontraction), it was found that although the molecular structures all changed after supercontraction, the mechanical properties almost remained unchanged when the length of the spider dragline silk did not change significantly. The other interesting conclusion obtained is that the manual stretching of a poorly oriented spider dragline silk cannot selectively improve the orientation degree of the β-sheet in the spider silk, but increase the orientation degree of all conformations (β-sheet, helix, and random). These experimental findings not only help to unveil the structure-property-function relationship of natural spider silks, but also provide a useful guideline for the design of biomimetic spider fiber materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinglin Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Guangqiang Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yufang Huang
- Department of Materials Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Linli Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jinrong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhengzhong Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
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15
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Dubey S, Joshi CH, Veer S, Uma D, Somanathan H, Majumdar S, Pullarkat PA. Strain softening and stiffening responses of spider silk fibers probed using a Micro-Extension Rheometer. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:487-493. [PMID: 31803881 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01572h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Spider silk possesses unique mechanical properties like large extensibility, high tensile strength, super-contractility, etc. Understanding these mechanical responses requires characterization of the rheological properties of silk beyond the simple force-extension relations which are widely reported. Here we study the linear and non-linear viscoelastic properties of dragline silk obtained from social spider Stegodyphus sarasinorum using a Micro-Extension Rheometer that we have developed. Unlike continuous extension data, our technique allows for the probing of the viscoelastic response by applying small perturbations about sequentially increasing steady-state strain values. In addition, we extend our analysis to obtain the characteristic stress relaxation times and the frequency responses of the viscous and elastic moduli. Using these methods, we show that in a small strain regime (0-4%) dragline silk of social spiders shows a strain softening response followed by a strain stiffening response at higher strains (>4%). The stress relaxation time, on the other hand, increases monotonically with increasing strain for the entire range. We also show that the silk stiffens while ageing within the typical lifetime of a web. Our results demand the inclusion of the kinetics of domain unfolding and refolding in the existing models to account for the relaxation time behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushil Dubey
- Soft Condensed Matter Group, Raman Research Institute, C. V. Raman Avenue, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560 080, India.
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16
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Blamires SJ, Sellers WI. Modelling temperature and humidity effects on web performance: implications for predicting orb-web spider ( Argiope spp.) foraging under Australian climate change scenarios. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 7:coz083. [PMID: 31832193 PMCID: PMC6899225 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coz083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic features extending beyond the body, or EPs, may vary plastically across environments. EP constructs, such as spider webs, vary in property across environments as a result of changes to the physiology of the animal or interactions between the environment and the integrity of the material from which the EP is manufactured. Due to the complexity of the interactions between EP constructs and the environment, the impact of climate change on EP functional integrity is poorly understood. Here we used a dynamic model to assess how temperature and humidity influence spider web major ampullate (MA) silk properties. MA silk is the silk that absorbs the impact of prey striking the web, hence our model provides a useful interpretation of web performance over the temperature (i.e. 20-55°C) and humidity (i.e. 15-100%) ranges assessed. Our results showed that extremely high or low humidity had direct negative effects on web capture performance, with changes in temperature likely having indirect effects. Undeniably, the effect of temperature on web architecture and its interactive effect with humidity on web tension and capture thread stickiness need to be factored into any further predictions of plausible climate change impacts. Since our study is the first to model plasticity in an EP construct's functionality and to extrapolate the results to predict climate change impacts, it stands as a template for future studies that endeavour to make predictions about the influence of climate change on animal EPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Blamires
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - W I Sellers
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Williamson Building, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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17
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Wilczek G, Surmiak K, Wawszczak B, Sajewicz M, Kowalska T, Sindera P, Wiśniewska K, Szulinska E. Effect of long-term cadmium and copper intoxication on the efficiency of ampullate silk glands in false black widow Steatoda grossa (Theridiidae) spiders. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2019; 224:108564. [PMID: 31276814 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2019.108564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to compare cellular effects of xenobiotic cadmium and biogenic copper in ampullate silk glands of false black widow Steatoda grossa spider after long-term exposure via ingestion under laboratory conditions. Both the level of selected detoxification parameters (glutathione S-transferase, catalase, and the level of total antioxidant capacity) and degree of genotoxic changes (comet assay) were determined in the silk glands. Additionally the contents of selected amino acids (L-Ala, L-Pro, L-His, L-Phe, DL-Ile, and DL-Asn) in the hunting webs produced by spiders of this species were assessed. The ability of S. grossa females to accumulate cadmium was higher than that for copper. Long-term exposure of spiders to copper did not change the level of detoxification parameters, and the level of DNA damage in the cells of ampullate silk glands was also low. Cadmium had a stronger prooxidative and genotoxic effect than copper in the cells of the analyzed silk glands. However, regardless of the type of metal used, no significant changes in the level of amino acids in silk were found. The obtained results confirmed the effectiveness of metal neutralization mechanisms in the body of the studied spider species, which results in the protection of the function of ampullate silk glands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grażyna Wilczek
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland.
| | - Kinga Surmiak
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland
| | - Beata Wawszczak
- Department of General Chemistry and Chromatography, Institute of Chemistry, University of Silesia, Szkolna 9, Katowice 40-006, Poland
| | - Mieczysław Sajewicz
- Department of General Chemistry and Chromatography, Institute of Chemistry, University of Silesia, Szkolna 9, Katowice 40-006, Poland
| | - Teresa Kowalska
- Department of General Chemistry and Chromatography, Institute of Chemistry, University of Silesia, Szkolna 9, Katowice 40-006, Poland
| | - Piotr Sindera
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland
| | - Kamila Wiśniewska
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Szulinska
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland
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18
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Blamires SJ, Cerexhe G, White TE, Herberstein ME, Kasumovic MM. Spider silk colour covaries with thermal properties but not protein structure. J R Soc Interface 2019; 16:20190199. [PMID: 31362622 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2019.0199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding how and why animal secretions vary in property has important biomimetic implications as desirable properties might covary. Spider major ampullate (MA) silk, for instance, is a secretion earmarked for biomimetic applications, but many of its properties vary among and between species across environments. Here, we tested the hypothesis that MA silk colour, protein structure and thermal properties covary when protein uptake is manipulated in the spider Trichonephila plumipes. We collected silk from adult female spiders maintained on a protein-fed or protein-deprived diet. Based on spectrophotometric quantifications, we classified half the silks as 'bee visible' and the other half 'bee invisible'. Wide angle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry were then used to assess the silk's protein structure and thermal properties, respectively. We found that although protein structures and thermal properties varied across our treatments only the thermal properties covaried with colour. This ultimately suggests that protein structure alone is not responsible for MA silk thermal properties, nor does it affect silk colours. We speculate that similar ecological factors act on silk colour and thermal properties, which should be uncovered to inform biomimetic programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean J Blamires
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences E26, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.,Department of Biological Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Georgia Cerexhe
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences E26, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Thomas E White
- Department of Biological Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Macleay (A12), Room 208, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Marie E Herberstein
- Department of Biological Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Michael M Kasumovic
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences E26, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
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19
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Greco G, Pantano MF, Mazzolai B, Pugno NM. Imaging and mechanical characterization of different junctions in spider orb webs. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5776. [PMID: 30962468 PMCID: PMC6453893 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42070-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider silk and spider orb webs are among the most studied biological materials and structures owing to their outstanding mechanical properties. A key feature that contributes significantly to the robustness and capability to absorb high kinetic energy of spider webs is the presence of junctions connecting different silk threads. Surprisingly, in spite of their fundamental function, the mechanics of spider web junctions have never been reported. Herein, through mechanical characterization and imaging, we show for the first time that spider orb webs host two different types of junction, produced by different silk glands, which have different morphology, and load bearing capability. These differences can be explained in view of the different roles they play in the web, i.e. allowing for a localized damage control or anchoring the whole structure to the surrounding environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Greco
- Laboratory of Bio-Inspired & Graphene Nanomechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano, 77, 38123, Trento, Italy
- Center for Micro-BioRobotics@SSSA, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, I-56025, Pontedera, Italy
| | - Maria F Pantano
- Laboratory of Bio-Inspired & Graphene Nanomechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano, 77, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Barbara Mazzolai
- Center for Micro-BioRobotics@SSSA, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, I-56025, Pontedera, Italy
| | - Nicola M Pugno
- Laboratory of Bio-Inspired & Graphene Nanomechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano, 77, 38123, Trento, Italy.
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS, London, United Kingdom.
- Ket-Lab, Edoardo Amaldi Foundation, Via del Politecnico snc, 00133, Rome, Italy.
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20
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Wilczek G, Karcz J, Rost-Roszkowska M, Kędziorski A, Wilczek P, Skowronek M, Wiśniewska K, Kaszuba F, Surmiak K. Evaluation of selected biological properties of the hunting web spider (Steatoda grossa, Theridiidae) in the aspect of short- and long-term exposure to cadmium. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 656:297-306. [PMID: 30504028 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The study aimed at comparing the effects of short- and long-term exposure of Steatoda grossa female spiders to cadmium on the web's architecture, its energy content, and ultrastructure of ampullate glands. Simple food chain model (medium with 0.25 mM CdCl2 → Drosophila hydei flies → spider (for 4 weeks or 12 months) was used for the exposure. Analysis of Cd content provided evidence that silk fibers of the web are well protected against its incorporation irrespectively of the exposure period. Long-term exposure to cadmium resulted in the occurrence of numerous autophagosomes with degenerated organelles as well as apoptotic and necrotic cells in the ampullate glands. Concurrently, the individual silk fibers building double and multiple combination complexes were significantly thinner than in the control threads. Moreover, exposed spiders spun net with smaller mean calorific value than did the control individuals. Hence, evaluation of both the diameter of silk fibers and calorific value of the web can serve as biomarkers of the effects caused by exposure of these predators to cadmium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grażyna Wilczek
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland.
| | - Jagna Karcz
- Laboratory of Scanning Electron Microscopy, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Jagiellońska 28, Katowice 40-007, Poland
| | - Magdalena Rost-Roszkowska
- Department of Embriology and Histology of Animals, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland
| | - Andrzej Kędziorski
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland
| | - Piotr Wilczek
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Heart Prosthesis Institute FRK, Wolności 345a, Zabrze 41-800, Poland
| | - Magdalena Skowronek
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland
| | - Kamila Wiśniewska
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland
| | - Florentyna Kaszuba
- Department of Embriology and Histology of Animals, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland
| | - Kinga Surmiak
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland
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21
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Mason TO, Shimanovich U. Fibrous Protein Self-Assembly in Biomimetic Materials. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1706462. [PMID: 29883013 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201706462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Protein self-assembly processes, by which polypeptides interact and independently form multimeric structures, lead to a wide array of different endpoints. Structures formed range from highly ordered molecular crystals to amorphous aggregates. Order arises in the system from a balance between many low-energy processes occurring due to a set of interactions between residues in a chain, between residues in different chains, and between solute and solvent. In Nature, self-assembling protein systems have evolved over millions of years to organize into supramolecular structures, optimized for specific functions, with this propensity determined by the sequence of their constituent amino acids, of which only 20 are encoded in DNA. The structural materials that arise from biological self-assembly can display remarkable mechanical properties, often as a result of hierarchical structure on the nano- and microscales, and much research has been devoted to mimicking and exploiting these properties for a variety of end uses. This work presents a review of a range of studies in which biological functions are effectively reproduced through the design of self-assembling fibrous protein systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas O Mason
- Department of Materials and Interfaces, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Ulyana Shimanovich
- Department of Materials and Interfaces, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
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22
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Piorkowski D, Blackledge TA, Liao C, Doran NE, Wu C, Blamires SJ, Tso I. Humidity‐dependent mechanical and adhesive properties of
Arachnocampa tasmaniensis
capture threads. J Zool (1987) 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D. Piorkowski
- Department of Life Science Tunghai University Taichung Taiwan
| | - T. A. Blackledge
- Department of Biology Integrated Bioscience Program The University of Akron Akron OH USA
| | - C.‐P. Liao
- Department of Life Science Tunghai University Taichung Taiwan
| | | | - C.‐L. Wu
- Center for Measurement Standards Industrial Technology Research Institute Hsinchu Taiwan
| | - S. J. Blamires
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
| | - I.‐M. Tso
- Department of Life Science Tunghai University Taichung Taiwan
- Center for Tropical Ecology and Biodiversity Tunghai University Taichung Taiwan
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23
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Numata K, Ifuku N, Isogai A. Silk Composite with a Fluoropolymer as a Water-Resistant Protein-Based Material. Polymers (Basel) 2018; 10:E459. [PMID: 30966494 PMCID: PMC6415215 DOI: 10.3390/polym10040459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Silk-based materials are water-sensitive and show different physical properties at different humidities and under wet/dry conditions. To overcome the water sensitivity of silk-based materials, we developed a silk composite material with a fluoropolymer. Blending and coating the silk protein-based materials, such as films and textiles, with the fluoropolymer enhanced the surface hydrophobicity, water vapor barrier properties, and size stability during shrinkage tests. This material design with a protein biopolymer and a fluoropolymer is expected to broaden the applicability of protein-based materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Numata
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wakoshi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
| | - Nao Ifuku
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wakoshi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
| | - Akira Isogai
- Department of Biomaterial Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
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24
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Dionne J, Lefèvre T, Bilodeau P, Lamarre M, Auger M. A quantitative analysis of the supercontraction-induced molecular disorientation of major ampullate spider silk. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 19:31487-31498. [PMID: 29159351 DOI: 10.1039/c7cp05739c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Spider silks exhibit remarkable properties, among which the so-called supercontraction, a physical phenomenon by which fibers undergo a longitudinal shrinkage and a radial swelling when exposed to water. The process is marked by a significant decrease in chain orientation resulting from plasticisation of the amorphous phase. Despite several studies that determined the Hermans orientation function, more quantitative data are required to be able to describe theoretically the macroscopic water-induced shrinkage from molecular reorganization. Here, we have examined the supercontraction of the major ampullate silk single fibers of Nephila clavipes (Nc) and Araneus diadematus (Ad) using polarized Raman spectromicroscopy. We determined the order parameters, the orientation distribution and the secondary structure content. Our data suggest that supercontraction induces a slight increase in β-sheet content, consistently with previous works. The β-sheet orientation is slightly affected by supercontraction compared to that of the amorphous phase, which becomes almost isotropic with shrinkage. Despite an initially lower orientation level, the Ad fiber shows a larger orientation decrease than Nc, consistently with its higher shrinkage amplitude. Although they share similar trends, absolute values of the orientation parameters from this work differ from those found in the literature. We took advantage of having determined the distribution of orientation to estimate the amplitude of shrinkage from changes in macromolecular size resulting from molecular disorientation. Our calculations show that more realistic models are needed to correlate molecular reorientation/refolding to macroscopic shrinkage. This work also underlines that more accurate data relative to molecular orientation are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Dionne
- Département de chimie, Regroupement québécois de Recherche sur la Fonction, l'Ingénierie et les Applications des Protéines (PROTEO), Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés (CERMA), Centre Québécois sur les Matériaux Fonctionnels (CQMF), Université Laval, Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
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25
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Piorkowski D, Blackledge TA. Punctuated evolution of viscid silk in spider orb webs supported by mechanical behavior of wet cribellate silk. Naturwissenschaften 2017; 104:67. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-017-1489-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 07/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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26
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Wilczek G, Karcz J, Putko A, Kędziorski A, Wilczek P, Stalmach M, Szulińska E. The effect of ingested cadmium on the calorific value and structural properties of hunting webs produced by Steatoda grossa (Theridiidae) spiders. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 586:1298-1307. [PMID: 28237463 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.02.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The study aimed to assess whether cadmium administered via ingestion to Steatoda grossa cobweb spiders (Theridiidae) affects the energy content and selected structural properties of the produced hunting webs. Cadmium content in webs was assessed with AAS and SEM X-ray microanalysis, while the diameters of silk fibers were estimated with SEM. The energy content of samples was measured in an oxygen micro-bomb calorimeter. Females and males showed different reactions to cadmium supplied through food. In comparison to females, males displayed higher metal concentrations in their bodies and hunting webs, however their calorific values and structural features were not significantly changed. Cadmium-treated females spun webs with smaller single-strand diameters and more frequent multi-stranded threads and invested 47% less energy in web production than the control individuals. It cannot be excluded that such a reduction in energy expenditure for web building in females resulted from energetically costly detoxifying reactions triggered in response to direct and indirect effects of cadmium toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grażyna Wilczek
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland.
| | - Jagna Karcz
- Laboratory of Scanning Electron Microscopy, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Jagiellońska 28, Katowice 40-007, Poland
| | - Anna Putko
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland
| | - Andrzej Kędziorski
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland
| | - Piotr Wilczek
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Heart Prosthesis Institute FRK, Wolności 345a, Zabrze 41-800, Poland
| | - Monika Stalmach
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Szulińska
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, Katowice 40-007, Poland
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27
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Numata K, Ifuku N, Masunaga H, Hikima T, Sakai T. Silk Resin with Hydrated Dual Chemical-Physical Cross-Links Achieves High Strength and Toughness. Biomacromolecules 2017; 18:1937-1946. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b00376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Numata
- Enzyme
Research Team, Biomass Engineering Research Division, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi,
Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Nao Ifuku
- Enzyme
Research Team, Biomass Engineering Research Division, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi,
Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Masunaga
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1, Kouto, Sayo-cho,
Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Takaaki Hikima
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Takamasa Sakai
- Department
of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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28
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Blamires SJ, Blackledge TA, Tso IM. Physicochemical Property Variation in Spider Silk: Ecology, Evolution, and Synthetic Production. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 62:443-460. [PMID: 27959639 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-031616-035615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The unique combination of great stiffness, strength, and extensibility makes spider major ampullate (MA) silk desirable for various biomimetic and synthetic applications. Intensive research on the genetics, biochemistry, and biomechanics of this material has facilitated a thorough understanding of its properties at various levels. Nevertheless, methods such as cloning, recombination, and electrospinning have not successfully produced materials with properties as impressive as those of spider silk. It is nevertheless becoming clear that silk properties are a consequence of whole-organism interactions with the environment in addition to genetic expression, gland biochemistry, and spinning processes. Here we assimilate the research done and assess the techniques used to determine distinct forms of spider silk chemical and physical property variability. We suggest that more research should focus on testing hypotheses that explain spider silk property variations in ecological and evolutionary contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean J Blamires
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung 40704, Taiwan;
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia;
| | - Todd A Blackledge
- Department of Biology, Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325;
| | - I-Min Tso
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung 40704, Taiwan;
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29
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Lang G, Neugirg BR, Kluge D, Fery A, Scheibel T. Mechanical Testing of Engineered Spider Silk Filaments Provides Insights into Molecular Features on a Mesoscale. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2017; 9:892-900. [PMID: 27935285 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b13093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Spider dragline silk shows the highest toughness in comparison to all other known natural or man-made fibers. Despite a broad experimental foundation concerning the macroscopic silk thread properties as well as a thorough simulation-based molecular understanding, the impact of the mesoscale building blocks, namely nano-/submicrometer-sized filaments, on the mechanical properties of the threads remains the missing link. Here, we illustrate the function of these mesoscaled building blocks using electrospun fibers made of a recombinant spider silk protein and show the impact of β-sheet content and fiber hydration on their mechanical performance. Specifically elucidating the interplay between β-sheet-cross-linking (fiber strength) and structural water (fiber extensibility), the results bridge the gap between the molecular and the macroscopic view on the mechanics of spider silk. It is demonstrated that the extensibility of the here used single (MaSp2-like) protein system is in good accordance with the simulated extensibilities published by other groups. Furthermore, sufficient hydration of the fibers is shown to be a prerequisite to obtain a toughness in the range of that of natural dragline silk. Preliminary studies on electrospun fibers of the MaSp2-based recombinant spider silk proteins used in this work have indicated their basic applicability in the technical field of filter systems as well as in regenerative medicine. The presented work provides a fundamental understanding of the mechanical performance of such fibers under different wetting conditions, a prerequisite to further specify their potential for such applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Andreas Fery
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e. V., Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer Physics , Dresden 01069, Germany
- Chair for Physical Chemistry of Polymeric Materials, Technical University Dresden , Dresden 01069, Germany
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30
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Moatsou D, Weder C. Mechanically Adaptive Nanocomposites Inspired by Sea Cucumbers. BIO-INSPIRED POLYMERS 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/9781782626664-00402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Sea cucumbers own the fascinating capability to rapidly and reversibly change the stiffness of their dermis. This mechanical morphing is achieved through a distinctive architecture of the tissue, which is composed of a viscoelastic matrix that is reinforced with rigid collagen microfibrils. Neurosecretory proteins regulate the interactions among the latter, and thereby control the overall mechanical properties of the material. This architecture and functionality have been mimicked by researchers in artificial nanocomposites that feature similar, albeit significantly simplified, structure and mechanical morphing ability. The general design of such stimulus–responsive, mechanically adaptive materials involves a low-modulus polymer matrix and rigid, high-aspect ratio filler particles, which are arranged to form percolating networks within the polymer matrix. Stress transfer is controlled by switching the interactions among the nanofibers and/or between the nanofibers and the matrix polymer via an external stimulus. In first embodiments, water was employed to moderate hydrogen-bonding interactions in such nanocomposites, while more recent examples have been designed to respond to more specific stimuli, such as a change of the pH, or irradiation with ultraviolet light. This chapter provides an overview of the general design principles and materials embodiments of such sea-cucumber inspired materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafni Moatsou
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg Chemin des Verdiers 4 1700 Fribourg Switzerland
| | - Christoph Weder
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg Chemin des Verdiers 4 1700 Fribourg Switzerland
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31
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Guan J, Wang Y, Mortimer B, Holland C, Shao Z, Porter D, Vollrath F. Glass transitions in native silk fibres studied by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. SOFT MATTER 2016; 12:5926-5936. [PMID: 27320178 DOI: 10.1039/c6sm00019c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Silks are a family of semi-crystalline structural materials, spun naturally by insects, spiders and even crustaceans. Compared to the characteristic β-sheet crystalline structure in silks, the non-crystalline structure and its composition deserves more attention as it is equally critical to the filaments' high toughness and strength. Here we further unravel the structure-property relationship in silks using Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA). This technique allows us to examine the most important structural relaxation event of the disordered structure the disordered structure, the glass transition (GT), in native silk fibres of the lepidopteran Bombyx mori and Antheraea pernyi and the spider Nephila edulis. The measured glass transition temperature Tg, loss tangent tan δ and dynamic storage modulus are quantitatively modelled based on Group Interaction Modelling (GIM). The "variability" issue in native silks can be conveniently explained by the different degrees of structural disorder as revealed by DMTA. The new insights will facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the structure-property relations for a wide range of biopolymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Guan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, International Research Center for Advanced Structural and Biomaterials, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Beth Mortimer
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
| | - Chris Holland
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK
| | - Zhengzhong Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - David Porter
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
| | - Fritz Vollrath
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
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32
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Yazawa K, Ishida K, Masunaga H, Hikima T, Numata K. Influence of Water Content on the β-Sheet Formation, Thermal Stability, Water Removal, and Mechanical Properties of Silk Materials. Biomacromolecules 2016; 17:1057-66. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5b01685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenjiro Yazawa
- Enzyme
Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1
Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Kana Ishida
- Enzyme
Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1
Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Spiber Inc., 234-1, Mizukami, Kakuganji, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0052, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Masunaga
- Japan Synchrotron
Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1,
Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
- RIKEN SPring-8
Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Takaaki Hikima
- RIKEN SPring-8
Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Keiji Numata
- Enzyme
Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1
Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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33
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Roenbeck MR, Furmanchuk A, An Z, Paci JT, Wei X, Nguyen ST, Schatz GC, Espinosa HD. Molecular-Level Engineering of Adhesion in Carbon Nanomaterial Interfaces. NANO LETTERS 2015; 15:4504-4516. [PMID: 26065464 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b01011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Weak interfilament van der Waals interactions are potentially a significant roadblock in the development of carbon nanotube- (CNT-) and graphene-based nanocomposites. Chemical functionalization is envisioned as a means of introducing stronger intermolecular interactions at nanoscale interfaces, which in turn could enhance composite strength. This paper reports measurements of the adhesive energy of CNT-graphite interfaces functionalized with various coverages of arylpropionic acid. Peeling experiments conducted in situ in a scanning electron microscope show significantly larger adhesive energies compared to previously obtained measurements for unfunctionalized surfaces (Roenbeck et al. ACS Nano 2014, 8 (1), 124-138). Surprisingly, however, the adhesive energies are significantly higher when both surfaces have intermediate coverages than when one surface is densely functionalized. Atomistic simulations reveal a novel functional group interdiffusion mechanism, which arises for intermediate coverages in the presence of water. This interdiffusion is not observed when one surface is densely functionalized, resulting in energy trends that correlate with those observed in experiments. This unique intermolecular interaction mechanism, revealed through the integrated experimental-computational approach presented here, provides significant insights for use in the development of next-generation nanocomposites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jeffrey T Paci
- ⊥Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3V6, Canada
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34
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Cheng Y, Koh LD, Li D, Ji B, Han MY, Zhang YW. On the strength of β-sheet crystallites of Bombyx mori silk fibroin. J R Soc Interface 2014; 11:20140305. [PMID: 24789564 PMCID: PMC4032545 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2014.0305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Silk fibroin, a natural multi-domain protein, has attracted great attention due to its superior mechanical properties such as ultra-high strength and stretchability, biocompatibility, as well as its versatile biodegradability and processability. It is mainly composed of β-sheet crystallites and amorphous domains. Although its strength is well known to be controlled by the dissociation of protein chains from β-sheet crystallites, the way that water as the solvent affects its strength and the reason that its theoretically predicted strength is several times higher than experimental measurement remain unclear. We perform all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on a β-sheet crystallite of Bombyx mori silk. We find that water solvent reduces the number and strength of hydrogen bonds between β-chains, and thus greatly weakens the strength of silk fibroin. By dissociating protein chains at different locations from the crystallite, we also find that the pulling strength for the interior chains is several times higher than that for the surface/corner chains, with the former being consistent with the theoretically predicted value, while the latter on par with the experimental value. It is shown that the weakest rupture strength controls the failure strength of silk fibre. Hence, this work sheds light on the role of water in the strength of silk fibroin and also provides clues on the origin of the strength difference between theory and experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Cheng
- Institute of High Performance Computing, A*STAR, Singapore 138632, Republic of Singapore
| | - Leng-Duei Koh
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR, Singapore 117602, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Republic of Singapore
| | - Dechang Li
- Biomechanics and Biomaterials Laboratory, Department of Applied Mechanics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Baohua Ji
- Biomechanics and Biomaterials Laboratory, Department of Applied Mechanics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming-Yong Han
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR, Singapore 117602, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Republic of Singapore
| | - Yong-Wei Zhang
- Institute of High Performance Computing, A*STAR, Singapore 138632, Republic of Singapore
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35
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Tulachan B, Meena SK, Rai RK, Mallick C, Kusurkar TS, Teotia AK, Sethy NK, Bhargava K, Bhattacharya S, Kumar A, Sharma RK, Sinha N, Singh SK, Das M. Electricity from the silk cocoon membrane. Sci Rep 2014; 4:5434. [PMID: 24961354 PMCID: PMC4069722 DOI: 10.1038/srep05434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 06/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Silk cocoon membrane (SCM) is an insect engineered structure. We studied the electrical properties of mulberry (Bombyx mori) and non-mulberry (Tussar, Antheraea mylitta) SCM. When dry, SCM behaves like an insulator. On absorbing moisture, it generates electrical current, which is modulated by temperature. The current flowing across the SCM is possibly ionic and protonic in nature. We exploited the electrical properties of SCM to develop simple energy harvesting devices, which could operate low power electronic systems. Based on our findings, we propose that the temperature and humidity dependent electrical properties of the SCM could find applications in battery technology, bio-sensor, humidity sensor, steam engines and waste heat management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brindan Tulachan
- Bioelectricity, Green Energy, Physiology & Sensor Group, Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Sunil Kumar Meena
- Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Ratan Kumar Rai
- Center for Biomedical Research, SGPGIMS Campus, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, UP, 226014, India
| | - Chandrakant Mallick
- Bioelectricity, Green Energy, Physiology & Sensor Group, Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India
| | - Tejas Sanjeev Kusurkar
- Bioelectricity, Green Energy, Physiology & Sensor Group, Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India
| | - Arun Kumar Teotia
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering & Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India
| | - Niroj Kumar Sethy
- Peptide and Proteomics Unit, Defense Institute Physiology and Allied Sciences, Defense Research Development Organization, Delhi, 110054, India
| | - Kalpana Bhargava
- Peptide and Proteomics Unit, Defense Institute Physiology and Allied Sciences, Defense Research Development Organization, Delhi, 110054, India
| | - Shantanu Bhattacharya
- Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering & Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India
| | | | - Neeraj Sinha
- Center for Biomedical Research, SGPGIMS Campus, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, UP, 226014, India
| | - Sushil Kumar Singh
- Functional Materials Group, Solid State Physics Laboratory, Defense Research Development Organization, Delhi, 110054, India
| | - Mainak Das
- Bioelectricity, Green Energy, Physiology & Sensor Group, Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India
- Design Program, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India
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36
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Wang Y, Porter D, Shao Z. Using Solvents with Different Molecular Sizes to Investigate the Structure of Antheraea Pernyi Silk. Biomacromolecules 2013; 14:3936-42. [DOI: 10.1021/bm401056x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, and Department
of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People’s Republic of China
| | - David Porter
- Department
of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom
| | - Zhengzhong Shao
- State
Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, and Department
of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People’s Republic of China
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37
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Spider Silk: A Smart Biopolymer with Water Switchable Shape Memory Effects -Unraveling the Mystery of Superconraction. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1108/rjta-17-02-2013-b001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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38
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Torres FG, Troncoso OP, Torres C, Cabrejos W. An experimental confirmation of thermal transitions in native and regenerated spider silks. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2013; 33:1432-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2012.12.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2012] [Revised: 11/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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39
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Guan J, Porter D, Vollrath F. Thermally Induced Changes in Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Native Silks. Biomacromolecules 2013; 14:930-7. [DOI: 10.1021/bm400012k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Guan
- Department
of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3PS,
Oxford, U.K
| | - David Porter
- Department
of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3PS,
Oxford, U.K
| | - Fritz Vollrath
- Department
of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3PS,
Oxford, U.K
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40
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Boutry C, Blackledge T. Wet webs work better: Humidity, supercontraction and the performance of spider orb webs. J Exp Biol 2013; 216:3606-10. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.084236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Summary
Like many biomaterials, spider silk responds to water through softening and swelling. Major ampullate silk, the main structural element of most prey capture webs, also shrinks dramatically if unrestrained or develops high tension if restrained, a phenomenon called "supercontraction". While supercontraction has been investigated for over 30 years, its consequences for web performance remain controversial. Here, we measure prey capture performance of dry and wet (supercontracted) orb webs of Argiope and Nephila using small wood blocks as prey. Prey capture performance significantly increased at high humidity for Argiope while the improvement was less dramatic for Nephila. This difference is likely due to Argiope silk supercontracting more than Nephila silk. Web deflection, measured as the extension of the web upon prey impact, also increased at high humidity in Argiope, suggesting that silk softening upon supercontraction explains improved performance of wet webs. These results strongly argue that supercontraction is not detrimental to web performance.
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41
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Greenberg DA, Fudge DS. Regulation of hard α-keratin mechanics via control of intermediate filament hydration: matrix squeeze revisited. Proc Biol Sci 2012; 280:20122158. [PMID: 23135675 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.2158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian hard α-keratins are fibre-reinforced biomaterials that consist of 10 nm intermediate filaments (IFs) embedded in an elastomeric protein matrix. Recent work suggests that the mechanical properties of IFs are highly sensitive to hydration, whereas hard α-keratins such as wool, hair and nail are relatively hydration insensitive. This raises the question of how mammalian keratins remain stiff in water. The matrix squeeze hypothesis states that the IFs in hard α-keratins are stiffened during an air-drying step during keratinization, and subsequently locked into a dehydrated state via the oxidation and cross-linking of the keratin matrix around them. The result is that even when hard α-keratins are immersed in water, their constituent IFs remain essentially 'dry' and therefore stiff. This hypothesis makes several predictions about the effects of matrix abundance and function on hard α-keratin mechanics and swelling behaviour. Specifically, it predicts that high matrix keratins in water will swell less, and have a higher tensile modulus, a higher yield stress and a lower dry-to-wet modulus ratio. It also predicts that disruption of the keratin matrix in water should lead to additional swelling, and a drop in modulus and yield stress. Our results are consistent with these predictions and suggest that the keratin matrix plays a critical role in governing the mechanical properties of mammalian keratins via control of IF hydration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Greenberg
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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42
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Bauer F, Scheibel T. Artifizielle Eierstiele, hergestellt aus rekombinant produziertem Florfliegenseidenprotein. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201200591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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43
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Guinea GV, Elices M, Plaza GR, Perea GB, Daza R, Riekel C, Agulló-Rueda F, Hayashi C, Zhao Y, Pérez-Rigueiro J. Minor ampullate silks from Nephila and Argiope spiders: tensile properties and microstructural characterization. Biomacromolecules 2012; 13:2087-98. [PMID: 22668322 DOI: 10.1021/bm3004644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The mechanical behavior and microstructure of minor ampullate gland silk (miS) of two orb-web spinning species, Argiope trifasciata and Nephila inaurata, were extensively characterized, enabling detailed comparison with other silks. The similarities and differences exhibited by miS when compared with the intensively studied major ampullate gland silk (MAS) and silkworm (Bombyx mori) silk offer a genuine opportunity for testing some of the hypotheses proposed to correlate microstructure and tensile properties in silk. In this work, we show that miSs of different species show similar properties, even when fibers spun by spiders that diverged over 100 million years are compared. The tensile properties of miS are comparable to those of MAS when tested in air, significantly in terms of work to fracture, but differ considerably when tested in water. In particular, miS does not show a supercontraction effect and an associated ground state. In this regard, the behavior of miS in water is similar to that of B. mori silk, and it is shown that the initial elastic modulus of both fibers can be explained using a common model. Intriguingly, the microstructural parameters measured in miS are comparable to those of MAS and considerably different from those found in B. mori. This fact suggests that some critical microstructural information is still missing in our description of silks, and our results suggest that the hydrophilicity of the lateral groups or the large scale organization of the sequences might be routes worth exploring.
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Affiliation(s)
- G V Guinea
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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44
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Guan J, Porter D, Vollrath F. Silks cope with stress by tuning their mechanical properties under load. POLYMER 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2012.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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45
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Bauer F, Scheibel T. Artificial egg stalks made of a recombinantly produced lacewing silk protein. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2012; 51:6521-4. [PMID: 22593030 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201200591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2012] [Revised: 04/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Rigid threads: Lacewings protect their eggs from predators by laying them on small stalks (see picture). The stalks have good mechanical properties and, unlike most other silks, a cross β structure. An artificial egg stalk was produced using a designed recombinant variant of a sequenced lacewing egg stalk protein, and it attained 90 % of the tensile strength of a natural egg stalk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Bauer
- Lehrstuhl Biomaterialien, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
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46
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Keerl D, Scheibel T. Characterization of natural and biomimetic spider silk fibers. BIOINSPIRED BIOMIMETIC AND NANOBIOMATERIALS 2012. [DOI: 10.1680/bbn.11.00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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47
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Ene R, Papadopoulos P, Kremer F. Supercontraction in Nephila spider dragline silk – Relaxation into equilibrium state. POLYMER 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2011.10.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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48
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Guan J, Vollrath F, Porter D. Two Mechanisms for Supercontraction in Nephila Spider Dragline Silk. Biomacromolecules 2011; 12:4030-5. [DOI: 10.1021/bm201032v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Guan
- Department
of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford
OX1 3PS, U.K
| | - Fritz Vollrath
- Department
of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford
OX1 3PS, U.K
| | - David Porter
- Department
of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford
OX1 3PS, U.K
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49
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Elices M, Plaza GR, Pérez-Rigueiro J, Guinea GV. The hidden link between supercontraction and mechanical behavior of spider silks. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2011; 4:658-69. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2010.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2010] [Revised: 09/16/2010] [Accepted: 09/17/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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50
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Elices M, Guinea GV, Plaza GR, Karatzas C, Riekel C, Agulló-Rueda F, Daza R, Pérez-Rigueiro J. Bioinspired Fibers Follow the Track of Natural Spider Silk. Macromolecules 2011. [DOI: 10.1021/ma102291m er] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Elices
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - G. V. Guinea
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - G. R. Plaza
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - C. Karatzas
- Nexia Biotechnologies Inc., Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC J7V 8P5Canada
| | - C. Riekel
- European Synchroton Radiation Facility, B.P. 220, F-38043, Grenoble Cedex, France
| | - F. Agulló-Rueda
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - R. Daza
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - J. Pérez-Rigueiro
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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