1
|
Zhu Z, Yan Z, Ni S, Yang H, Xie Y, Wang X, Zou D, Tao C, Jiang W, Jiang J, Su Z, Xia Y, Zhou Z, Sun L, Fan C, Tao TH, Wei X, Qian Y, Liu K. Tissue/Organ Adaptable Bioelectronic Silk-Based Implants. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2405892. [PMID: 39036824 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202405892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Implantable bioelectronic devices, designed for both monitoring and modulating living organisms, require functional and biological adaptability. Pure silk is innovatively employed, which is known for its excellent biocompatibility, to engineer water-triggered, geometrically reconfigurable membranes, on which functions can be integrated by Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) techniques and specially functionalized silk. These devices can undergo programmed shape deformations within 10 min once triggered by water, and thus establishing stable bioelectronic interfaces with natively fitted geometries. As a testament to the applicability of this approach, a twining peripheral nerve electrode is designed, fabricated, and rigorously tested, demonstrating its efficacy in nerve modulation while ensuring biocompatibility for successful implantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
- School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 East Yanqi Lake Rd., Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Zhiwen Yan
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Orthopaedic Material Innovation and Tissue Regeneration, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Siyuan Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
- School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 East Yanqi Lake Rd., Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Huiran Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
| | - Yating Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
- ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Rd., Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Xueying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
- School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 East Yanqi Lake Rd., Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Dujuan Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
- School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 East Yanqi Lake Rd., Beijing, 101408, China
- 2020 X-Lab, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1455 Pingcheng Rd., Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Chen Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
- ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Rd., Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Wanqi Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
- School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 East Yanqi Lake Rd., Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Jianbo Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
- School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 East Yanqi Lake Rd., Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Zexi Su
- School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 East Yanqi Lake Rd., Beijing, 101408, China
- 2020 X-Lab, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1455 Pingcheng Rd., Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Yuxin Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
| | - Zhitao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
- School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 East Yanqi Lake Rd., Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Liuyang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
- School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 East Yanqi Lake Rd., Beijing, 101408, China
- 2020 X-Lab, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1455 Pingcheng Rd., Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Cunyi Fan
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Orthopaedic Material Innovation and Tissue Regeneration, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Tiger H Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
- School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 East Yanqi Lake Rd., Beijing, 101408, China
- ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Rd., Shanghai, 200120, China
- 2020 X-Lab, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1455 Pingcheng Rd., Shanghai, 201800, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- Guangdong Institute of Intelligence Science and Technology, Zhuhai, 519031, China
- Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Translational Research, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Xiaoling Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
- School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 East Yanqi Lake Rd., Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Yun Qian
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Orthopaedic Material Innovation and Tissue Regeneration, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Keyin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China
- School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 East Yanqi Lake Rd., Beijing, 101408, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Agnarsson I. Biomechanics: Rain yields tougher spider silks. Curr Biol 2024; 34:R30-R33. [PMID: 38194927 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.11.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Broad ecological sampling of spider silks from multiple species shows that the biomechanical properties of spider silk reflect the habitat in which their orb webs are built. Silk toughness is highest in habitats with dense rain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ingi Agnarsson
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland; Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA; School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ceccarini M, Chiesa I, Ripanti F, Cardinali MA, Micalizzi S, Scattini G, De Maria C, Paciaroni A, Petrillo C, Comez L, Bertelli M, Sassi P, Pascucci L, Beccari T, Valentini L. Electrospun Nanofibrous UV Filters with Bidirectional Actuation Properties Based on Salmon Sperm DNA/Silk Fibroin for Biomedical Applications. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:38233-38242. [PMID: 37867705 PMCID: PMC10586176 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we dissolved Bombyx mori degummed silk [i.e., silk fibroin (SF)] and salmon sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in water and used a bioinspired spinning process to obtain an electrospun nanofibrous SF-based patch (ESF). We investigated the bidirectional macroscale actuation behavior of ESF in response to water vapor and its UV-blocking properties as well as those of ESF/DNA films. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results suggest that the formation of β-sheet-rich structures promotes the actuation effect. ESF/DNA film with high-ordered and β-sheet-rich structures exhibits higher electrical conductivity and is water-insoluble. Given the intrinsic ability of both SF and DNA to absorb UV radiation, we performed biological experiments on the viability of keratinocyte HaCaT cells after exposure to solar spectrum components. Our findings indicate that the ESF/DNA patch is photoprotective and can increase the cellular viability of keratinocytes after UV exposure. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ESF/DNA patches treated with water vapor can serve as suitable scaffolds for tissue engineering and can improve tissue regeneration when cellularized with HaCaT cells. The 3D shape morphing capability of these patches, along with their potential as UV filters, could offer significant practical advantages in tissue engineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Irene Chiesa
- Department
of Ingegneria dell’Informazione and Research Center E. Piaggio, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino 1, Pisa 56122, Italy
| | - Francesca Ripanti
- Dipartimento
di Fisica e Geologia, Università
degli Studi di Perugia, Via A. Pascoli, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Martina Alunni Cardinali
- Department
of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Simone Micalizzi
- Department
of Ingegneria dell’Informazione and Research Center E. Piaggio, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino 1, Pisa 56122, Italy
| | - Gabriele Scattini
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo, 4, Perugia 06126, Italy
| | - Carmelo De Maria
- Department
of Ingegneria dell’Informazione and Research Center E. Piaggio, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino 1, Pisa 56122, Italy
| | - Alessandro Paciaroni
- Dipartimento
di Fisica e Geologia, Università
degli Studi di Perugia, Via A. Pascoli, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Caterina Petrillo
- Dipartimento
di Fisica e Geologia, Università
degli Studi di Perugia, Via A. Pascoli, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Lucia Comez
- Istituto
Officina dei Materiali-IOM, National Research Council-CNR, Via Alessandro Pascoli, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | | | - Paola Sassi
- Department
of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Luisa Pascucci
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo, 4, Perugia 06126, Italy
| | - Tommaso Beccari
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Science, University of
Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy
| | - Luca Valentini
- Civil
and Environmental Engineering Department and INSTM Research Unit, University of Perugia, Strada di Pentima 8, Terni 05100, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Jiang P, Wu L, Hu M, Tang S, Qiu Z, Lv T, Elices M, Guinea GV, Pérez-Rigueiro J. Variation in the Elastic Modulus and Increased Energy Dissipation Induced by Cyclic Straining of Argiope bruennichi Major Ampullate Gland Silk. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:biomimetics8020164. [PMID: 37092416 PMCID: PMC10123757 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8020164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The trends exhibited by the parameters that describe the mechanical behaviour of major ampullate gland silk fibers spun by Argiope bruennichi spiders is explored by performing a series of loading-unloading tests at increasing values of strain, and by the subsequent analysis of the true stress-true strain curves obtained from these cycles. The elastic modulus, yields stress, energy absorbed, and energy dissipated in each cycle are computed in order to evaluate the evolution of these mechanical parameters with this cyclic straining. The elastic modulus is observed to increase steadily under these loading conditions, while only a moderate variation is found in the yield stress. It is also observed that a significant proportion of the energy initially absorbed in each cycle is not only dissipated, but that the material may recover partially from the associated irreversible deformation. This variation in the mechanical performance of spider silk is accounted for through a combination of irreversible and reversible deformation micromechanisms in which the viscoelasticity of the material plays a leading role.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, College of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, China
| | - Lihua Wu
- Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Menglei Hu
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, College of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, China
| | - Sisi Tang
- Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhimin Qiu
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, College of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, China
| | - Taiyong Lv
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital in Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Manuel Elices
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gustavo V Guinea
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), C/Prof. Martín Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Technology (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - José Pérez-Rigueiro
- Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), C/Prof. Martín Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Technology (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Li K, Shen H, Xue W. Wet-Driven Bionic Actuators from Wool Artificial Yarn Muscles. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:16232-16243. [PMID: 36942675 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c22659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nature-similar muscle is one of the ultimate goals of advanced artificial muscle materials. Currently, a variety of chemical and natural materials have been gradually developed for the preparation of artificial muscles. However, due to the scarcity, biological exclusion, and poor flexibility of the abovementioned materials, it is still a challenging process to maximize the imitation of behaviors shown by real muscles and commercial development. Here, this article presents multidimensional wool yarn artificial muscles, and the wet response behavior of fibers is induced in yarn muscles successfully by virtue of weakening the water-repellent effect of wool scales. Wool artificial muscles are cost-effective and widely available and have good biocompatibility. In addition, wool fiber assemblies are structurally stable, soft, and flexible to be processed into artificial muscles with torsional, contractile, and even multilayered structures, enabling various wet-driven behaviors. On the basis of the theoretical model and numerical simulation, we explained and verified the working mechanism employed in wool artificial yarn muscles. Finally, the yarn muscle was integrated into a wool muscle group through the textile technology, followed by the application to robot bionic arms, displaying the great potential of wool artificial yarn muscles in bionic drivers and the intelligent textile industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ke Li
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, No. 2999, People's North Road,Songjiang District, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China
| | - Hua Shen
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, No. 2999, People's North Road,Songjiang District, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China
| | - Wenliang Xue
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, No. 2999, People's North Road,Songjiang District, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Correa-Garhwal SM, Baker RH, Clarke TH, Ayoub NA, Hayashi CY. The evolutionary history of cribellate orb-weaver capture thread spidroins. BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:89. [PMID: 35810286 PMCID: PMC9270836 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-02042-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spiders have evolved two types of sticky capture threads: one with wet adhesive spun by ecribellate orb-weavers and another with dry adhesive spun by cribellate spiders. The evolutionary history of cribellate capture threads is especially poorly understood. Here, we use genomic approaches to catalog the spider-specific silk gene family (spidroins) for the cribellate orb-weaver Uloborus diversus. Results We show that the cribellar spidroin, which forms the puffy fibrils of cribellate threads, has three distinct repeat units, one of which is conserved across cribellate taxa separated by ~ 250 Mya. We also propose candidates for a new silk type, paracribellar spidroins, which connect the puffy fibrils to pseudoflagelliform support lines. Moreover, we describe the complete repeat architecture for the pseudoflagelliform spidroin (Pflag), which contributes to extensibility of pseudoflagelliform axial fibers. Conclusions Our finding that Pflag is closely related to Flag, supports homology of the support lines of cribellate and ecribellate capture threads. It further suggests an evolutionary phase following gene duplication, in which both Flag and Pflag were incorporated into the axial lines, with subsequent loss of Flag in uloborids, and increase in expression of Flag in ecribellate orb-weavers, explaining the distinct mechanical properties of the axial lines of these two groups. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-022-02042-5.
Collapse
|
7
|
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: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wan HY, Chen YT, Li GT, Wu HC, Huang TC, Yang TI. Electroactive aniline tetramer-spider silks with conductive and electrochromic functionality. RSC Adv 2022; 12:21946-21956. [PMID: 36043065 PMCID: PMC9364158 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra01065h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Electroactive aniline tetramer-spider silk composite fibers with high conductivity and mechanical strength were developed using a dip coating method. The fabricated spider silk composite fibers retain the high mechanical strength (0.92 GPa) and unique reversible relaxation-contraction behavior of spider dragline silks. The aniline tetramer modified on the silk surface imparted electroactive properties to the composite fibers. The color of aniline tetramer/spider silk composite fibers could be controlled by applying different pH values and voltages. Furthermore, the composite fiber's resistivity could reach 186 Ω m which can conduct electrical current to light LEDs. This study could provide a valuable guideline for developing highly-conductive electrochromic spider silks for use in E-textiles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Yu Wan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Chung-Yuan Christian University Taoyuan Taiwan +886 3 2654199 +886 3 2654149
| | - Yi-Ting Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Chung-Yuan Christian University Taoyuan Taiwan +886 3 2654199 +886 3 2654149
| | - Guan-Ting Li
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Chung-Yuan Christian University Taoyuan Taiwan +886 3 2654199 +886 3 2654149
| | - Hsuan-Chen Wu
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University Taipei Taiwan
| | - Tsao-Cheng Huang
- Technical Department Plastics Division, Formosa Plastics Corporation 814538 Kaohsiung Taiwan
| | - Ta-I Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Chung-Yuan Christian University Taoyuan Taiwan +886 3 2654199 +886 3 2654149
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Lin L, Zhong Y, Lin H, Wang C, Yang Z, Wu Q, Zhang D, Zhu W, Zhong Y, Pan Y, Yu J, Zheng H. Spider Silk-Improved Quartz-Enhanced Conductance Spectroscopy for Medical Mask Humidity Sensing. Molecules 2022; 27:4320. [PMID: 35807564 PMCID: PMC9268163 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27134320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider silk is one of the hottest biomaterials researched currently, due to its excellent mechanical properties. This work reports a novel humidity sensing platform based on a spider silk-modified quartz tuning fork (SSM-QTF). Since spider silk is a kind of natural moisture-sensitive material, it does not demand additional sensitization. Quartz-enhanced conductance spectroscopy (QECS) was combined with the SSM-QTF to access humidity sensing sensitively. The results indicate that the resonance frequency of the SSM-QTF decreased monotonously with the ambient humidity. The detection sensitivity of the proposed SSM-QTF sensor was 12.7 ppm at 1 min. The SSM-QTF sensor showed good linearity of ~0.99. Using this sensor, we successfully measured the humidity of disposable medical masks for different periods of wearing time. The results showed that even a 20 min wearing time can lead to a >70% humidity in the mask enclosed space. It is suggested that a disposable medical mask should be changed <2 h.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leqing Lin
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yu Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Haoyang Lin
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Chenglong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Zhifei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Qian Wu
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Di Zhang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China;
| | - Wenguo Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yongchun Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yuwei Pan
- Department of Preventive Treatment of Disease, The Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510405, China;
| | - Jianhui Yu
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Huadan Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China;
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ramezaniaghdam M, Nahdi ND, Reski R. Recombinant Spider Silk: Promises and Bottlenecks. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:835637. [PMID: 35350182 PMCID: PMC8957953 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.835637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spider silk threads have exceptional mechanical properties such as toughness, elasticity and low density, which reach maximum values compared to other fibre materials. They are superior even compared to Kevlar and steel. These extraordinary properties stem from long length and specific protein structures. Spider silk proteins can consist of more than 20,000 amino acids. Polypeptide stretches account for more than 90% of the whole protein, and these domains can be repeated more than a hundred times. Each repeat unit has a specific function resulting in the final properties of the silk. These properties make them attractive for innovative material development for medical or technical products as well as cosmetics. However, with livestock breeding of spiders it is not possible to reach high volumes of silk due to the cannibalistic behaviour of these animals. In order to obtain spider silk proteins (spidroins) on a large scale, recombinant production is attempted in various expression systems such as plants, bacteria, yeasts, insects, silkworms, mammalian cells and animals. For viable large-scale production, cost-effective and efficient production systems are needed. This review describes the different types of spider silk, their proteins and structures and discusses the production of these difficult-to-express proteins in different host organisms with an emphasis on plant systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Ramezaniaghdam
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS at FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nadia D. Nahdi
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Reski
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS at FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Artificial and natural silk materials have high mechanical property variability regardless of sample size. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3507. [PMID: 35241705 PMCID: PMC8894418 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07212-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Silk fibres attract great interest in materials science for their biological and mechanical properties. Hitherto, the mechanical properties of the silk fibres have been explored mainly by tensile tests, which provide information on their strength, Young’s modulus, strain at break and toughness modulus. Several hypotheses have been based on these data, but the intrinsic and often overlooked variability of natural and artificial silk fibres makes it challenging to identify trends and correlations. In this work, we determined the mechanical properties of Bombyx mori cocoon and degummed silk, native spider silk, and artificial spider silk, and compared them with classical commercial carbon fibres using large sample sizes (from 10 to 100 fibres, in total 200 specimens per fibre type). The results confirm a substantial variability of the mechanical properties of silk fibres compared to commercial carbon fibres, as the relative standard deviation for strength and strain at break is 10–50%. Moreover, the variability does not decrease significantly when the number of tested fibres is increased, which was surprising considering the low variability frequently reported for silk fibres in the literature. Based on this, we prove that tensile testing of 10 fibres per type is representative of a silk fibre population. Finally, we show that the ideal shape of the stress–strain curve for spider silk, characterized by a pronounced exponential stiffening regime, occurs in only 25% of all tested spider silk fibres.
Collapse
|
13
|
Wu R, Ma L, Liu XY. From Mesoscopic Functionalization of Silk Fibroin to Smart Fiber Devices for Textile Electronics and Photonics. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2103981. [PMID: 34802200 PMCID: PMC8811810 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202103981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Bombyx mori silk fibers exhibit significant potential for applications in smart textiles, such as fiber sensors, fiber actuators, optical fibers, and energy harvester. Silk fibroin (SF) from B. mori silkworm fibers can be reconstructed/functionalized at the mesoscopic scale during refolding from the solution state into fibers. This facilitates the mesoscopic functionalization by engaging functional seeds in the refolding of unfolded SF molecules. In particular, SF solutions can be self-assembled into regenerated fiber devices by artificial spinning technologies, such as wet spinning, dry spinning, microfluidic spinning, electrospinning, and direct writing. Meso-functionalization manipulates the SF property from the mesoscopic scale, transforming the original silk fibers into smart fiber devices with smart functionalities, such as sensors, actuators, optical fibers, luminous fibers, and energy harvesters. In this review, the progress of mesoscopic structural construction from SF materials to fiber electronics/photonics is comprehensively summarized, along with the spinning technologies and fiber structure characterization methods. The applications, prospects, and challenges of smart silk fibers in textile devices for wearable personalized healthcare, self-propelled exoskeletons, optical and luminous fibers, and sustainable energy harvesters are also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ronghui Wu
- College of Ocean and Earth SciencesState Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science (MEL)Xiamen361005P. R. China
| | - Liyun Ma
- College of Ocean and Earth SciencesState Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science (MEL)Xiamen361005P. R. China
| | - Xiang Yang Liu
- College of Ocean and Earth SciencesState Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science (MEL)Xiamen361005P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Li J, Li S, Huang J, Khan AQ, An B, Zhou X, Liu Z, Zhu M. Spider Silk-Inspired Artificial Fibers. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2103965. [PMID: 34927397 PMCID: PMC8844500 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202103965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Spider silk is a natural polymeric fiber with high tensile strength, toughness, and has distinct thermal, optical, and biocompatible properties. The mechanical properties of spider silk are ascribed to its hierarchical structure, including primary and secondary structures of the spidroins (spider silk proteins), the nanofibril, the "core-shell", and the "nano-fishnet" structures. In addition, spider silk also exhibits remarkable properties regarding humidity/water response, water collection, light transmission, thermal conductance, and shape-memory effect. This motivates researchers to prepare artificial functional fibers mimicking spider silk. In this review, the authors summarize the study of the structure and properties of natural spider silk, and the biomimetic preparation of artificial fibers from different types of molecules and polymers by taking some examples of artificial fibers exhibiting these interesting properties. In conclusion, biomimetic studies have yielded several noteworthy findings in artificial fibers with different functions, and this review aims to provide indications for biomimetic studies of functional fibers that approach and exceed the properties of natural spider silk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiatian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Pharmacy and College of ChemistryKey Laboratory of Functional Polymer MaterialsFrontiers Science Center for New Organic MatterNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Sitong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Pharmacy and College of ChemistryKey Laboratory of Functional Polymer MaterialsFrontiers Science Center for New Organic MatterNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Jiayi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Pharmacy and College of ChemistryKey Laboratory of Functional Polymer MaterialsFrontiers Science Center for New Organic MatterNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Abdul Qadeer Khan
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Pharmacy and College of ChemistryKey Laboratory of Functional Polymer MaterialsFrontiers Science Center for New Organic MatterNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Baigang An
- School of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of Science and Technology LiaoningAnshan114051China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of ScienceChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing211198China
| | - Zunfeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Pharmacy and College of ChemistryKey Laboratory of Functional Polymer MaterialsFrontiers Science Center for New Organic MatterNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
- School of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of Science and Technology LiaoningAnshan114051China
| | - Meifang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer MaterialsCollege of Materials Science and EngineeringDonghua UniversityShanghai201620China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Shape Memory Materials from Rubbers. MATERIALS 2021; 14:ma14237216. [PMID: 34885377 PMCID: PMC8658094 DOI: 10.3390/ma14237216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Smart materials are much discussed in the current research scenario. The shape memory effect is one of the most fascinating occurrences in smart materials, both in terms of the phenomenon and its applications. Many metal alloys and polymers exhibit the shape memory effect (SME). Shape memory properties of elastomers, such as rubbers, polyurethanes, and other elastomers, are discussed in depth in this paper. The theory, factors impacting, and key uses of SME elastomers are all covered in this article. SME has been observed in a variety of elastomers and composites. Shape fixity and recovery rate are normally analysed through thermomechanical cycle studies to understand the effectiveness of SMEs. Polymer properties such as chain length, and the inclusion of fillers, such as clays, nanoparticles, and second phase polymers, will have a direct influence on the shape memory effect. The article discusses these aspects in a simple and concise manner.
Collapse
|
16
|
Liu Z, Ji X, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Song H, Zhang Y, Yang X, Zhang J, Yang J, Yuan L. Supercontraction of spider dragline silk for humidity sensing. OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 29:28864-28871. [PMID: 34615007 DOI: 10.1364/oe.434786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The spider dragline silk (SDS) has a supercontraction characteristic, which may cause the axial length of the SDS to shrink up to 50% when the SDS is wet or the relative humidity is higher than 58% RH. In this manuscript, we employ the supercontraction characteristic of the SDS to measure relative humidity. We connect two sections of a single-mode fiber (SMF) and a section of multimode fiber (MMF) with a sandwich structure to fabricate a single-mode-multimode-single-mode (SMS) interferometer. Then we fix the SDS on two SMFs to configure a bow-shaped sensing unit. The increase of environmental humidity will cause the supercontraction of the SDS, which will cause the change of the SDS length. The excellent mechanical properties of the SDS will generate a strong pulling force and change the bending of the arch, whose interference spectrum will shift correspondingly. In this way, we may perform relative humidity sensing. In the relative humidity range of 58% RH to 100% RH, the average sensitivity is as high as 6.213 nm/% RH, higher than most fiber-based humidity sensors. Compared with the traditional sensing structure with humidity-sensitive materials, the proposed sensor improves the sensitivity with environmental friendliness. The results suggest that the SDS can be used for high-sensitivity humidity sensors, and its degradability and biocompatibility also have a vast development space in biochemical sensors.
Collapse
|
17
|
Shu T, Lv Z, Chen CT, Gu GX, Ren J, Cao L, Pei Y, Ling S, Kaplan DL. Mechanical Training-Driven Structural Remodeling: A Rational Route for Outstanding Highly Hydrated Silk Materials. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2102660. [PMID: 34288406 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202102660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Highly hydrated silk materials (HHSMs) have been the focus of extensive research due to their usefulness in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and soft devices, among other fields. However, HHSMs have weak mechanical properties that limit their practical applications. Inspired by the mechanical training-driven structural remodeling strategy (MTDSRS) in biological tissues, herein, engineered MTDSRS is developed for self-reinforcement of HHSMs to improve their inherent mechanical properties and broaden potential utility. The MTDSRS consists of repetitive mechanical training and solvent-induced conformation transitions. Solvent-induced conformation transition enables the formation of β-sheet physical crosslinks among the proteins, while the repetitive mechanical loading allows the rearrangement of physically crosslinked proteins along the loading direction. Such synergistic effects produce strong and stiff mechanically trained-HHSMs (MT-HHSMs). The fracture strength and Young's modulus of the resultant MT-HHSMs (water content of 43 ± 4%) reach 4.7 ± 0.9 and 21.3 ± 2.1 MPa, respectively, which are 8-fold stronger and 13-fold stiffer than those of the as-prepared HHSMs, as well as superior to most previously reported HHSMs with comparable water content. In addition, the animal silk-like highly oriented molecular crosslinking network structure also provides MT-HHSMs with fascinating physical and functional features, such as stress-birefringence responsibility, humidity-induced actuation, and repeatable self-folding deformation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ting Shu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Zhuochen Lv
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Chun-Teh Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Grace X Gu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Jing Ren
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Leitao Cao
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Ying Pei
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Htut KZ, Alicea-Serrano AM, Singla S, Agnarsson I, Garb JE, Kuntner M, Gregorič M, Haney RA, Marhabaie M, Blackledge TA, Dhinojwala A. Correlation between protein secondary structure and mechanical performance for the ultra-tough dragline silk of Darwin's bark spider. J R Soc Interface 2021; 18:20210320. [PMID: 34129788 PMCID: PMC8205537 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The spider major ampullate (MA) silk exhibits high tensile strength and extensibility and is typically a blend of MaSp1 and MaSp2 proteins with the latter comprising glycine-proline-glycine-glycine-X repeating motifs that promote extensibility and supercontraction. The MA silk from Darwin's bark spider (Caerostris darwini) is estimated to be two to three times tougher than the MA silk from other spider species. Previous research suggests that a unique MaSp4 protein incorporates proline into a novel glycine-proline-glycine-proline motif and may explain C. darwini MA silk's extraordinary toughness. However, no direct correlation has been made between the silk's molecular structure and its mechanical properties for C. darwini. Here, we correlate the relative protein secondary structure composition of MA silk from C. darwini and four other spider species with mechanical properties before and after supercontraction to understand the effect of the additional MaSp4 protein. Our results demonstrate that C. darwini MA silk possesses a unique protein composition with a lower ratio of helices (31%) and β-sheets (20%) than other species. Before supercontraction, toughness, modulus and tensile strength correlate with percentages of β-sheets, unordered or random coiled regions and β-turns. However, after supercontraction, only modulus and strain at break correlate with percentages of β-sheets and β-turns. Our study highlights that additional information including crystal size and crystal and chain orientation is necessary to build a complete structure-property correlation model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Zin Htut
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Angela M. Alicea-Serrano
- Department of Biology, Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Saranshu Singla
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Ingi Agnarsson
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Jessica E. Garb
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
| | - Matjaž Kuntner
- Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology ZRC SAZU, Novi trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Organisms and Ecosystems Research, National Institute of Biology, Večna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matjaž Gregorič
- Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology ZRC SAZU, Novi trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Robert A. Haney
- Department of Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA
| | - Mohammad Marhabaie
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Todd A. Blackledge
- Department of Biology, Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Ali Dhinojwala
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Manikandan G, Murali A, Kumar R, Satapathy DK. Rapid Moisture-Responsive Silk Fibroin Actuators. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:8880-8888. [PMID: 33576225 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c17525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We report the unique actuation characteristics of moisture-driven, fully reversible soft biopolymer films fabricated from Bombyx mori silk. The instantaneous actuation is driven by the water vapor induced stress gradient generated across the thickness of the film, and it possesses subsecond response and actuation times. The excellent durability and consistent performance of the film without any noticeable fatigue are established by subjecting it to more than a thousand continuous actuation cycles. The weight-lifting capability of the film is fascinating, where a few tens of micrograms of water generate a colossal force required to lift hundreds of milligrams of weight. Several other potential uses of silk fibroin based soft actuators, such as an intelligent textile layer with the crescent-shaped windows that open on perspiring skin and an autonomous crawler, are also demonstrated. Interestingly, even moisture emanating from the human palm triggers the ultrafast actuation process. These silk films are fabricated using a simple facile solution-casting technique, which can be scaled up with relative ease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ganesan Manikandan
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India
- Laboratory for High Performance Ceramics, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India
| | - Aathira Murali
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Palakkad, 678557, India
| | - Ravi Kumar
- Laboratory for High Performance Ceramics, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India
| | - Dillip K Satapathy
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Dong L, Qiao J, Wu Y, Ren M, Wang Y, Shen X, Wei X, Wang X, Di J, Li Q. Programmable Contractile Actuations of Twisted Spider Dragline Silk Yarns. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:482-490. [PMID: 33397085 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The contraction behavior of spider dragline silk upon water exposure has drawn particular interest in developing humidity-responsive smart materials. We report herein that the spider dragline silk yarns with moderate twists can generate much improved lengthwise contraction of 60% or an isometric stress of 11 MPa when wetted by water. Upon the removal of the absorbed water, the dried and contracted spider silk yarns showed programmable contractile actuations. These yarns can be plastically stretched to any specified lengths between the fully contracted state and the state before supercontraction and return to the fully contracted state when wetted. Moreover, the generated isometric stress of these yarns is also programmable, depending on the stretching ratio. The mechanism of the programmable reversible contraction is based on the plastic mechanical property of the dried and contracted spider silk yarns, which can be explained by the variation of the hydrogen bonds and the secondary structures of the proteins in spider dragline silk. Humidity alarm switches, smart doors, and wound healing devices based on the programmable contractile actuations of the spider silk yarns were demonstrated, which provide application scenarios for the supercontraction of spider dragline silk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lizhong Dong
- School of Nano-Technology and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.,Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Advanced Materials Division, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jian Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Advanced Materials Division, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yulong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Advanced Materials Division, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ming Ren
- School of Nano-Technology and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.,Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Advanced Materials Division, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yulian Wang
- School of Nano-Technology and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.,Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Advanced Materials Division, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiaofan Shen
- Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Advanced Materials Division, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiangwan Wei
- School of Nano-Technology and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.,Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Advanced Materials Division, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiaona Wang
- Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Advanced Materials Division, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jiangtao Di
- School of Nano-Technology and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.,Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Advanced Materials Division, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Qingwen Li
- School of Nano-Technology and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.,Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Advanced Materials Division, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China.,Division of Nanomaterials, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330200, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Belbéoch C, Lejeune J, Vroman P, Salaün F. Silkworm and spider silk electrospinning: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2021; 19:1737-1763. [PMID: 33424525 PMCID: PMC7779161 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-020-01147-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Issues of fossil fuel and plastic pollution are shifting public demand toward biopolymer-based textiles. For instance, silk, which has been traditionally used during at least 5 milleniums in China, is re-emerging in research and industry with the development of high-tech spinning methods. Various arthropods, e.g. insects and arachnids, produce silky proteinic fiber of unique properties such as resistance, elasticity, stickiness and toughness, that show huge potential for biomaterial applications. Compared to synthetic analogs, silk presents advantages of low density, degradability and versatility. Electrospinning allows the creation of nonwoven mats whose pore size and structure show unprecedented characteristics at the nanometric scale, versus classical weaving methods or modern techniques such as melt blowing. Electrospinning has recently allowed to produce silk scaffolds, with applications in regenerative medicine, drug delivery, depollution and filtration. Here we review silk production by the spinning apparatus of the silkworm Bombyx mori and the spiders Aranea diadematus and Nephila Clavipes. We present the biotechnological procedures to get silk proteins, and the preparation of a spinning dope for electrospinning. We discuss silk's mechanical properties in mats obtained from pure polymer dope and multi-composites. This review highlights the similarity between two very different yarn spinning techniques: biological and electrospinning processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Belbéoch
- ENSAIT: Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts et Industries Textiles, Roubaix, France
| | - Joseph Lejeune
- ENSAIT: Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts et Industries Textiles, Roubaix, France
| | - Philippe Vroman
- ENSAIT: Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts et Industries Textiles, Roubaix, France
| | - Fabien Salaün
- ENSAIT: Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts et Industries Textiles, Roubaix, France
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Li Z, Wang J, Li X, Wang Y, Fan LJ, Yang S, Guo M, Li X, Tu Y. Supramolecular and Physically Double-Cross-Linked Network Strategy toward Strong and Tough Elastic Fibers. ACS Macro Lett 2020; 9:1655-1661. [PMID: 35617066 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The strength and toughness are two trade-off properties of a material, yet Nature can achieve strong and tough materials by introducing sacrificial bonds into a system. Here, we present a four-component multiblock copolymer (mBCP) approach toward strong and tough elastic fibers, by introducing terpyridine moieties into poly(ether ester) mBCP elastomers. After coordination with Fe(II), supramolecular cross-links are formed within the physically cross-linked thermoplastic elastomers. The toughening elastic fibers with a double-cross-linked network structure show high tensile strength (ca. 300 MPa) and toughness (ca. 100 MJ m-3). In addition, they display excellent resilience with enhanced self-healing properties. Our strategy provides a promising way for the development of strong and tough elastomers by introducing metal-ligand sacrificial bonds into mBCPs elastomers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhikai Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jiabin Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Testing and Analysis Center, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Li-Juan Fan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Shuguang Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Center for Advanced Low-Dimension Materials, College of Material Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Mingyu Guo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiaopeng Li
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Yingfeng Tu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Kiseleva AP, Krivoshapkin PV, Krivoshapkina EF. Recent Advances in Development of Functional Spider Silk-Based Hybrid Materials. Front Chem 2020; 8:554. [PMID: 32695749 PMCID: PMC7338834 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.00554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Silkworm silk is mainly known as a luxurious textile. Spider silk is an alternative to silkworm silk fibers and has much more outstanding properties. Silk diversity ensures variation in its application in nature and industry. This review aims to provide a critical summary of up-to-date fabrication methods of spider silk-based organic-inorganic hybrid materials. This paper focuses on the relationship between the molecular structure of spider silk and its mechanical properties. Such knowledge is essential for understanding the innate properties of spider silk as it provides insight into the sophisticated assembly processes of silk proteins into the distinct polymers as a basis for novel products. In this context, we describe the development of spider silk-based hybrids using both natural and bioengineered spider silk proteins blended with inorganic nanoparticles. The following topics are also covered: the diversity of spider silk, its composition and architecture, the differences between silkworm silk and spider silk, and the biosynthesis of natural silk. Referencing biochemical data and processes, this paper outlines the existing challenges and future outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elena F. Krivoshapkina
- Laboratory of Solution Chemistry of Advanced Materials and Technologies, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sushil Dubey
- Soft Condensed Matter Group, Raman Research Institute, C. V. Raman Avenue, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560 080, India.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Liu D, Tarakanova A, Hsu CC, Yu M, Zheng S, Yu L, Liu J, He Y, Dunstan DJ, Buehler MJ. Spider dragline silk as torsional actuator driven by humidity. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaau9183. [PMID: 30838327 PMCID: PMC6397028 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau9183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Self-powered actuation driven by ambient humidity is of practical interest for applications such as hygroscopic artificial muscles. We demonstrate that spider dragline silk exhibits a humidity-induced torsional deformation of more than 300°/mm. When the relative humidity reaches a threshold of about 70%, the dragline silk starts to generate a large twist deformation independent of spider species. The torsional actuation can be precisely controlled by regulating the relative humidity. The behavior of humidity-induced twist is related to the supercontraction behavior of spider dragline silk. Specifically, molecular simulations of MaSp1 and MaSp2 proteins in dragline silk reveal that the unique torsional property originates from the presence of proline in MaSp2. The large proline rings also contribute to steric exclusion and disruption of hydrogen bonding in the molecule. This property of dragline silk and its structural origin can inspire novel design of torsional actuators or artificial muscles and enable the development of designer biomaterials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dabiao Liu
- Department of Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Engineering Structural Analysis and Safety Assessment, Wuhan 430074, China
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Anna Tarakanova
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Claire C. Hsu
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Miao Yu
- Department of Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Shimin Zheng
- Department of Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Longteng Yu
- Department of Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117583, Singapore
| | - Jie Liu
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Yuming He
- Department of Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Engineering Structural Analysis and Safety Assessment, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - D. J. Dunstan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
McGill M, Holland GP, Kaplan DL. Experimental Methods for Characterizing the Secondary Structure and Thermal Properties of Silk Proteins. Macromol Rapid Commun 2019; 40:e1800390. [PMID: 30073740 PMCID: PMC6425979 DOI: 10.1002/marc.201800390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2018] [Revised: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Silk proteins are biopolymers produced by spinning organisms that have been studied extensively for applications in materials engineering, regenerative medicine, and devices due to their high tensile strength and extensibility. This remarkable combination of mechanical properties arises from their unique semi-crystalline secondary structure and block copolymer features. The secondary structure of silks is highly sensitive to processing, and can be manipulated to achieve a wide array of material profiles. Studying the secondary structure of silks is therefore critical to understanding the relationship between structure and function, the strength and stability of silk-based materials, and the natural fiber synthesis process employed by spinning organisms. However, silks present unique challenges to structural characterization due to high-molecular-weight protein chains, repetitive sequences, and heterogeneity in intra- and interchain domain sizes. Here, experimental techniques used to study the secondary structure of silks, the information attainable from these techniques, and the limitations associated with them are reviewed. Ultimately, the appropriate utilization of a suite of techniques discussed here will enable detailed characterization of silk-based materials, from studying fundamental processing-structure-function relationships to developing commercially useful quality control assessments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meghan McGill
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Gregory P. Holland
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-1030, USA
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Diaz C, Tanikawa A, Miyashita T, Dhinojwala A, Blackledge TA. Silk structure rather than tensile mechanics explains web performance in the moth-specialized spider, Cyrtarachne. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 329:120-129. [PMID: 29992763 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Orb webs intercept and retain prey so spiders may subdue them. Orb webs are composed of sticky, compliant spirals of capture silk spun across strong, stiff major ampullate silk threads. Interplay between differences in the mechanical properties of these silks is crucial for prey capture. Most orb webs depend upon insects contacting several radial and capture threads for successful retention. Moths, however, escape quickly from most orb webs due to the sacrificial scales covering their bodies. Cyrtarachne orb webs are unusual as they contain a reduced number of capture threads and moths stick unusually well to single threads. We aimed to determine how the tensile properties of the capture spiral and radial threads spun by Cyrtarachne operate in retention of moth prey. A NanoBionix UTM was used to quantify the material properties of flagelliform and major ampullate threads to test if Cyrtarachne's reduced web architecture is accompanied by improvements in tensile performance of its silk. Silk threads showed tensile properties typical of less-specialized orb-weavers, with the exception of high extensibility in radial threads. Radial thread diameters were 62.5% smaller than flagelliform threads, where commonly the two are roughly similar. We utilized our tensile data to create a finite element model of Cyrtarachne's web to investigate energy dissipation during prey impact. Large cross-sectional area of the flagelliform threads played a key role in enabling single capture threads to withstand prey impact. Rather than extraordinary silk, Cyrtarachne utilizes structural changes in the size and attachment of silk threads to facilitate web function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Candido Diaz
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio
| | | | | | - Ali Dhinojwala
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Wu Y, Shah DU, Wang B, Liu J, Ren X, Ramage MH, Scherman OA. Biomimetic Supramolecular Fibers Exhibit Water-Induced Supercontraction. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1707169. [PMID: 29775504 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201707169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Spider silk is a fascinating material, combining high strength and elasticity that outperforms most synthetic fibers. Another intriguing feature of spider silk is its ability to "supercontract," shrinking up to 50% when exposed to water. This is likely on account of the entropy-driven recoiling of secondary structured proteins when water penetrates the spider silk. In contrast, humidity-driven contraction in synthetic fibers is difficult to achieve. Here, inspired by the spider silk model, a supercontractile fiber (SCF), which contracts up to 50% of its original length at high humidity, comparable to spider silk, is reported. The fiber exhibits up to 300% uptake of water by volume, confirmed via environmental scanning electron microscopy. Interestingly, the SCF exhibits tunable mechanical properties by varying humidity, which is reflected by the prolonged failure strain and the reversible damping capacity. This smart supramolecular fiber material provides a new opportunity of fabricating biomimetic muscle for diverse applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuchao Wu
- Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Darshil U Shah
- Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, 1 Scroope Terrace, Cambridge, CB2 1PX, UK
| | - Baoyuan Wang
- Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Ji Liu
- Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Xiaohe Ren
- Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Michael H Ramage
- Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, 1 Scroope Terrace, Cambridge, CB2 1PX, UK
| | - Oren A Scherman
- Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Conservation of a pH-sensitive structure in the C-terminal region of spider silk extends across the entire silk gene family. Heredity (Edinb) 2018; 120:574-580. [PMID: 29445119 PMCID: PMC5943517 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0050-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Spiders produce multiple silks with different physical properties that allow them to occupy a diverse range of ecological niches, including the underwater environment. Despite this functional diversity, past molecular analyses show a high degree of amino acid sequence similarity between C-terminal regions of silk genes that appear to be independent of the physical properties of the resulting silks; instead, this domain is crucial to the formation of silk fibers. Here, we present an analysis of the C-terminal domain of all known types of spider silk and include silk sequences from the spider Argyroneta aquatica, which spins the majority of its silk underwater. Our work indicates that spiders have retained a highly conserved mechanism of silk assembly, despite the extraordinary diversification of species, silk types and applications of silk over 350 million years. Sequence analysis of the silk C-terminal domain across the entire gene family shows the conservation of two uncommon amino acids that are implicated in the formation of a salt bridge, a functional bond essential to protein assembly. This conservation extends to the novel sequences isolated from A. aquatica. This finding is relevant to research regarding the artificial synthesis of spider silk, suggesting that synthesis of all silk types will be possible using a single process.
Collapse
|
32
|
Giesa T, Schuetz R, Fratzl P, Buehler MJ, Masic A. Unraveling the Molecular Requirements for Macroscopic Silk Supercontraction. ACS NANO 2017; 11:9750-9758. [PMID: 28846384 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b01532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Spider dragline silk is a protein material that has evolved over millions of years to achieve finely tuned mechanical properties. A less known feature of some dragline silk fibers is that they shrink along the main axis by up to 50% when exposed to high humidity, a phenomenon called supercontraction. This contrasts the typical behavior of many other materials that swell when exposed to humidity. Molecular level details and mechanisms of the supercontraction effect are heavily debated. Here we report a molecular dynamics analysis of supercontraction in Nephila clavipes silk combined with in situ mechanical testing and Raman spectroscopy linking the reorganization of the nanostructure to the polar and charged amino acids in the sequence. We further show in our in silico approach that point mutations of these groups not only suppress the supercontraction effect, but even reverse it, while maintaining the exceptional mechanical properties of the silk material. This work has imminent impact on the design of biomimetic equivalents and recombinant silks for which supercontraction may or may not be a desirable feature. The approach applied is appropriate to explore the effect of point mutations on the overall physical properties of protein based materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Giesa
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Roman Schuetz
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces , Science Park Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Peter Fratzl
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces , Science Park Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Markus J Buehler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Admir Masic
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces , Science Park Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Mortimer B, Soler A, Siviour CR, Zaera R, Vollrath F. Tuning the instrument: sonic properties in the spider's web. J R Soc Interface 2017; 13:rsif.2016.0341. [PMID: 27605164 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2016.0341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider orb webs are multifunctional, acting to absorb prey impact energy and transmit vibratory information to the spider. This paper explores the links between silk material properties, propagation of vibrations within webs and the ability of the spider to control and balance web function. Combining experimental and modelling approaches, we contrast transverse and longitudinal wave propagation in the web. It emerged that both transverse and longitudinal wave amplitude in the web can be adjusted through changes in web tension and dragline silk stiffness, i.e. properties that can be controlled by the spider. In particular, we propose that dragline silk supercontraction may have evolved as a control mechanism for these multifunctional fibres. The various degrees of active influence on web engineering reveals the extraordinary ability of spiders to shape the physical properties of their self-made materials and architectures to affect biological functionality, balancing trade-offs between structural and sensory functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B Mortimer
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - A Soler
- Department of Continuum Mechanics and Structural Analysis, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - C R Siviour
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - R Zaera
- Department of Continuum Mechanics and Structural Analysis, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - F Vollrath
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
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]
|
35
|
Yoshioka T, Tashiro K, Ohta N. Observation of Water-Stimulated Supercontraction of Uniaxially Oriented Poly(vinyl alcohol) and the Related Hierarchical Structure Change Revealed by the Time-Resolved WAXD/SAXS Measurements. Macromolecules 2017. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.6b02523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Taiyo Yoshioka
- Department
of Future Industry-oriented Basic Science and Materials, Graduate
School of Engineering, Toyota Technological Institute, Tempaku, Nagoya 468-8511, Japan
| | - Kohji Tashiro
- Department
of Future Industry-oriented Basic Science and Materials, Graduate
School of Engineering, Toyota Technological Institute, Tempaku, Nagoya 468-8511, Japan
| | - Noboru Ohta
- Japan Synchrotron
Radiation Research Institute, 1-1 Koto, Mikazuki-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Das R, Kumar A, Patel A, Vijay S, Saurabh S, Kumar N. Biomechanical characterization of spider webs. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2016; 67:101-109. [PMID: 27988439 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Revised: 11/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In light of recent focus on the behaviour of the natural structures for revolutionary technological growth, spider web seems to have seized considerable attention of product designer due to its amazing behaviour. In present work, mechanism behind the structural integrity of the spider web along with the materialistic analysis of its constituent silk threads has been extensively investigated. The nanoindentation tool both in static and dynamic mode has been utilized for complete analysis of the mechanical behaviour of the spiral and radial threads separately. Both the average elastic modulus and hardness of the radial silk thread is higher than the spiral silk thread which reveals the radial silk thread is the major structural component of the web. The sustainability of spider webs under storm, windy conditions and during the impact of pray has been investigated under dynamic conditions. The radial silk thread exhibits elastic like response and the spiral silk thread exhibits viscous like response in a wide frequency range (1-200Hz). The damping characteristic of the radial and spiral silk threads, an important parameter to investigate the energy dissipation properties of the materials has also been investigated in windy conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Das
- School of Mechanical, Materials and Energy Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Nangal Road, Rupnagar 140001, Punjab, India
| | - Amit Kumar
- School of Mechanical, Materials and Energy Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Nangal Road, Rupnagar 140001, Punjab, India
| | - Anurag Patel
- School of Mechanical, Materials and Energy Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Nangal Road, Rupnagar 140001, Punjab, India
| | - Sahil Vijay
- School of Mechanical, Materials and Energy Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Nangal Road, Rupnagar 140001, Punjab, India
| | - Shashank Saurabh
- School of Mechanical, Materials and Energy Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Nangal Road, Rupnagar 140001, Punjab, India
| | - Navin Kumar
- School of Mechanical, Materials and Energy Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Nangal Road, Rupnagar 140001, Punjab, India.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Krasnov I, Seydel T, Greving I, Blankenburg M, Vollrath F, Müller M. Strain-dependent fractional molecular diffusion in humid spider silk fibres. J R Soc Interface 2016; 13:20160506. [PMID: 27628174 PMCID: PMC5046950 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2016.0506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider silk is a material well known for its outstanding mechanical properties, combining elasticity and tensile strength. The molecular mobility within the silk's polymer structure on the nanometre length scale importantly contributes to these macroscopic properties. We have therefore investigated the ensemble-averaged single-particle self-dynamics of the prevailing hydrogen atoms in humid spider dragline silk fibres on picosecond time scales in situ as a function of an externally applied tensile strain. We find that the molecular diffusion in the amorphous fraction of the oriented fibres can be described by a generalized fractional diffusion coefficient Kα that is independent of the observation length scale in the probed range from approximately 0.3-3.5 nm. Kα increases towards a diffusion coefficient of the classical Fickian type with increasing tensile strain consistent with an increasing loss of memory or entropy in the polymer matrix.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Igor Krasnov
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany Institute of Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Tilo Seydel
- Institut Max von Laue-Paul Langevin (ILL), CS 20156, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Imke Greving
- Institute of Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Malte Blankenburg
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany Institute of Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Fritz Vollrath
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX13PS, UK
| | - Martin Müller
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany Institute of Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Su I, Buehler MJ. Nanomechanics of silk: the fundamentals of a strong, tough and versatile material. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2016; 27:302001. [PMID: 27305929 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/30/302001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Spider silk is a remarkable material that provides a template for upscaling molecular properties to the macroscale. In this article we review fundamental aspects of the mechanisms behind these behaviors, discuss the molecular makeup, chemical designs, and how these integrate in a complex arrangement to form webs, cocoons and other material architectures. Moreover, this review paper explores the unique ability of silk to tolerate various kinds of defects, in a way enabling this material platform to serve as one of the most resilient materials in nature. We conclude the discussion with a summary of key scaling laws, an attempt model and define hierarchical length-scales, and the translation to synthetic materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Su
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
The effect of ageing on the mechanical properties of the silk of the bridge spider Larinioides cornutus (Clerck, 1757). Sci Rep 2016; 6:24699. [PMID: 27156712 PMCID: PMC4860589 DOI: 10.1038/srep24699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider silk is regarded as one of the best natural polymer fibers especially in terms of low density, high tensile strength and high elongation until breaking. Since only a few bio-engineering studies have been focused on spider silk ageing, we conducted nano-tensile tests on the vertical naturally spun silk fibers of the bridge spider Larinioides cornutus (Clerck, 1757) (Arachnida, Araneae) to evaluate changes in the mechanical properties of the silk (ultimate stress and strain, Young’s modulus, toughness) over time. We studied the natural process of silk ageing at different time intervals from spinning (20 seconds up to one month), comparing silk fibers spun from adult spiders collected in the field. Data were analyzed using Linear Mixed Models. We detected a positive trend versus time for the Young’s modulus, indicating that aged silks are stiffer and possibly less effective in catching prey. Moreover, we observed a negative trend for the ultimate strain versus time, attesting a general decrement of the resistance force. These trends are interpreted as being due to the drying of the silk protein chains and the reorientation among the fibers.
Collapse
|
40
|
Madurga R, Plaza GR, Blackledge TA, Guinea GV, Elices M, Pérez-Rigueiro J. Material properties of evolutionary diverse spider silks described by variation in a single structural parameter. Sci Rep 2016; 6:18991. [PMID: 26755434 PMCID: PMC4709512 DOI: 10.1038/srep18991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider major ampullate gland silks (MAS) vary greatly in material properties among species but, this variation is shown here to be confined to evolutionary shifts along a single universal performance trajectory. This reveals an underlying design principle that is maintained across large changes in both spider ecology and silk chemistry. Persistence of this design principle becomes apparent after the material properties are defined relative to the true alignment parameter, which describes the orientation and stretching of the protein chains in the silk fiber. Our results show that the mechanical behavior of all Entelegynae major ampullate silk fibers, under any conditions, are described by this single parameter that connects the sequential action of three deformation micromechanisms during stretching: stressing of protein-protein hydrogen bonds, rotation of the β-nanocrystals and growth of the ordered fraction. Conservation of these traits for over 230 million years is an indication of the optimal design of the material and gives valuable clues for the production of biomimetic counterparts based on major ampullate spider silk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Madurga
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid). Spain.,Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales. ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. 28040. Madrid. Spain
| | - Gustavo R Plaza
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid). Spain.,Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales. ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. 28040. Madrid. Spain
| | - Todd A Blackledge
- Department of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program. The University of Akron, Akron, OH44325-3908. USA
| | - Gustavo V Guinea
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid). Spain.,Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales. ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. 28040. Madrid. Spain
| | - Manuel Elices
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid). Spain.,Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales. ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. 28040. Madrid. Spain
| | - José Pérez-Rigueiro
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid). Spain.,Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales. ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. 28040. Madrid. Spain
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Steins A, Dik P, Müller WH, Vervoort SJ, Reimers K, Kuhbier JW, Vogt PM, van Apeldoorn AA, Coffer PJ, Schepers K. In Vitro Evaluation of Spider Silk Meshes as a Potential Biomaterial for Bladder Reconstruction. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0145240. [PMID: 26689371 PMCID: PMC4687005 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Reconstruction of the bladder by means of both natural and synthetic materials remains a challenge due to severe adverse effects such as mechanical failure. Here we investigate the application of spider major ampullate gland-derived dragline silk from the Nephila edulis spider, a natural biomaterial with outstanding mechanical properties and a slow degradation rate, as a potential scaffold for bladder reconstruction by studying the cellular response of primary bladder cells to this biomaterial. We demonstrate that spider silk without any additional biological coating supports adhesion and growth of primary human urothelial cells (HUCs), which are multipotent bladder cells able to differentiate into the various epithelial layers of the bladder. HUCs cultured on spider silk did not show significant changes in the expression of various epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and fibrosis associated genes, and demonstrated only slight reduction in the expression of adhesion and cellular differentiation genes. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis showed that most of the silk-exposed HUCs maintain an undifferentiated immunophenotype. These results demonstrate that spider silk from the Nephila edulis spider supports adhesion, survival and growth of HUCs without significantly altering their cellular properties making this type of material a suitable candidate for being tested in pre-clinical models for bladder reconstruction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Steins
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, Division of Pediatrics, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Cell Biology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter Dik
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, Division of Pediatrics, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Wally H. Müller
- Utrecht University, Department of Chemistry, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Stephin J. Vervoort
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Cell Biology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kerstin Reimers
- Medical School Hannover, Department of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jörn W. Kuhbier
- Medical School Hannover, Department of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover, Germany
| | - Peter M. Vogt
- Medical School Hannover, Department of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover, Germany
| | - Aart A. van Apeldoorn
- University of Twente, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, Department of Developmental Bioengineering, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J. Coffer
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, Division of Pediatrics, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Cell Biology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Koen Schepers
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Cell Biology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Xu D, Shi X, Thompson F, Weber WS, Mou Q, Yarger JL. Protein secondary structure of Green Lynx spider dragline silk investigated by solid-state NMR and X-ray diffraction. Int J Biol Macromol 2015; 81:171-9. [PMID: 26226457 PMCID: PMC4874476 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2015.07.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the secondary structure of the major ampullate silk from Peucetia viridans (Green Lynx) spiders is characterized by X-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. From X-ray diffraction measurement, β-sheet nanocrystallites were observed and found to be highly oriented along the fiber axis, with an orientational order, fc≈0.98. The size of the nanocrystallites was determined to be on average 2.5nm×3.3nm×3.8nm. Besides a prominent nanocrystalline region, a partially oriented amorphous region was also observed with an fa≈0.89. Two-dimensional (13)C-(13)C through-space and through-bond solid-state NMR experiments were employed to elucidate structure details of P. viridans silk proteins. It reveals that β-sheet nanocrystallites constitutes 40.0±1.2% of the protein and are dominated by alanine-rich repetitive motifs. Furthermore, based upon the NMR data, 18±1% of alanine, 60±2% glycine and 54±2% serine are incorporated into helical conformations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dian Xu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, United States
| | - Xiangyan Shi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, United States
| | - Forrest Thompson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, United States
| | - Warner S Weber
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, United States
| | - Qiushi Mou
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, United States
| | - Jeffery L Yarger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Ebrahimi D, Tokareva O, Rim NG, Wong JY, Kaplan DL, Buehler MJ. Silk-Its Mysteries, How It Is Made, and How It Is Used. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2015; 1:864-876. [PMID: 27398402 PMCID: PMC4936833 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5b00152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This article reviews fundamental and applied aspects of silk-one of Nature's most intriguing materials in terms of its strength, toughness, and biological role-in its various forms, from protein molecules to webs and cocoons, in the context of mechanical and biological properties. A central question that will be explored is how the bridging of scales and the emergence of hierarchical structures are critical elements in achieving novel material properties, and how this knowledge can be explored in the design of synthetic materials. We review how the function of a material system at the macroscale can be derived from the interplay of fundamental molecular building blocks. Moreover, guidelines and approaches to current experimental and computational designs in the field of synthetic silklike materials are provided to assist the materials science community in engineering customized finetuned biomaterials for biomedical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davoud Ebrahimi
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Olena Tokareva
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Nae Gyune Rim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Joyce Y. Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
The role of mechanics in biological and bio-inspired systems. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7418. [DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
|
45
|
Zhang L, Bai Z, Ban H, Liu L. Effects of the amino acid sequence on thermal conduction through β-sheet crystals of natural silk protein. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 17:29007-13. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cp04621a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Molecular mechanisms underpinning the thermal transport process through three types of β-sheets are studied to reveal the intrinsic sequence effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Utah State University
- Logan
- USA
| | - Zhitong Bai
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Utah State University
- Logan
- USA
| | - Heng Ban
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Utah State University
- Logan
- USA
| | - Ling Liu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Utah State University
- Logan
- USA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Sampath S, Yarger JL. Structural hysteresis in dragline spider silks induced by supercontraction: An x-ray fiber micro-diffraction study. RSC Adv 2015; 5:1462-1473. [PMID: 25621168 DOI: 10.1039/c4ra13936d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Interaction with water causes shrinkage and significant changes in the structure of spider dragline silks, which has been referred to as supercontraction in the literature. Preferred orientation or alignment of protein chains with respect to the fiber axis is extensively changed during this supercontraction process. Synchrotron x-ray micro-fiber diffraction experiments have been performed on Nephila clavipes and Argiope aurantia major and minor ampullate dragline spider fibers in the native dry, contracted (by immersion in water) and restretched (from contracted) states. Changes in the orientation of β-sheet nanocrystallites and the oriented component of the amorphous network have been determined from wide-angle x-ray diffraction patterns. While both the crystalline and amorphous components lose preferred orientation on wetting with water, the nano-crystallites regain their orientation on wet-restretching, whereas the oriented amorphous components only partially regain their orientation. Dragline major ampullate silks in both the species contract more than their minor ampullate silks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sujatha Sampath
- Dept. of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA ; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1604, USA
| | - Jeffery L Yarger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1604, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Marhabaie M, Leeper TC, Blackledge TA. Protein Composition Correlates with the Mechanical Properties of Spider (Argiope trifasciata) Dragline Silk. Biomacromolecules 2013; 15:20-9. [DOI: 10.1021/bm401110b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Marhabaie
- Department
of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3908, United States
| | - Thomas C. Leeper
- Department
of Chemistry and Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3601, United States
| | - Todd A. Blackledge
- Department
of Biology and Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3908, United States
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Sheu H, Jean Y. Water Improve Crystal Quality in Dragline of CyrtophoraSpider. J CHIN CHEM SOC-TAIP 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/jccs.201300045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hwo‐Shuenn Sheu
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, 101 Hsinann Road, Hsinchu 30077, Taiwan
| | - Yuch‐Cheng Jean
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, 101 Hsinann Road, Hsinchu 30077, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Cranford SW. Increasing silk fibre strength through heterogeneity of bundled fibrils. J R Soc Interface 2013; 10:20130148. [PMID: 23486175 PMCID: PMC3627094 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2013.0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Can naturally arising disorder in biological materials be beneficial? Materials scientists are continuously attempting to replicate the exemplary performance of materials such as spider silk, with detailed techniques and assembly procedures. At the same time, a spider does not precisely machine silk-imaging indicates that its fibrils are heterogeneous and irregular in cross section. While past investigations either focused on the building material (e.g. the molecular scale protein sequence and behaviour) or on the ultimate structural component (e.g. silk threads and spider webs), the bundled structure of fibrils that compose spider threads has been frequently overlooked. Herein, I exploit a molecular dynamics-based coarse-grain model to construct a fully three-dimensional fibril bundle, with a length on the order of micrometres. I probe the mechanical behaviour of bundled silk fibrils with variable density of heterogenic protrusions or globules, ranging from ideally homogeneous to a saturated distribution. Subject to stretching, the model indicates that cooperativity is enhanced by contact through low-force deformation and shear 'locking' between globules, increasing shear stress transfer by up to 200 per cent. In effect, introduction of a random and disordered structure can serve to improve mechanical performance. Moreover, addition of globules allows a tuning of free volume, and thus the wettability of silk (with implications for supercontraction). These findings support the ability of silk to maintain near-molecular-level strength at the scale of silk threads, and the mechanism could be easily adopted as a strategy for synthetic fibres.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven W Cranford
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
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]
|