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Greco G, Schmuck B, Jalali SK, Pugno NM, Rising A. Influence of experimental methods on the mechanical properties of silk fibers: A systematic literature review and future road map. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 4:031301. [PMID: 38510706 PMCID: PMC10903380 DOI: 10.1063/5.0155552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Spider silk fibers are of scientific and industrial interest because of their extraordinary mechanical properties. These properties are normally determined by tensile tests, but the values obtained are dependent on the morphology of the fibers, the test conditions, and the methods by which stress and strain are calculated. Because of this, results from many studies are not directly comparable, which has led to widespread misconceptions in the field. Here, we critically review most of the reports from the past 50 years on spider silk mechanical performance and use artificial spider silk and native silks as models to highlight the effect that different experimental setups have on the fibers' mechanical properties. The results clearly illustrate the importance of carefully evaluating the tensile test methods when comparing the results from different studies. Finally, we suggest a protocol for how to perform tensile tests on silk and biobased fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - S. K. Jalali
- Laboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta, Materials & Mechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano, 77, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | | | - Anna Rising
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
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2
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Dugon MM, Lawton C, Sturgess D, Dunbar JP. Predation on a pygmy shrew,
Sorex minutus
, by the noble false widow spider,
Steatoda nobilis. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michel M. Dugon
- Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Colin Lawton
- Animal Ecology and Conservation Group School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Dawn Sturgess
- Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway Galway Ireland
| | - John P. Dunbar
- Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway Galway Ireland
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3
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Prey localization in spider orb webs using modal vibration analysis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19045. [PMID: 36351940 PMCID: PMC9646800 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22898-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider webs are finely tuned multifunctional structures, widely studied for their prey capture functionalities such as impact strength and stickiness. However, they are also sophisticated sensing tools that enable the spider to precisely determine the location of impact and capture the prey before it escapes. In this paper, we suggest a new mechanism for this detection process, based on potential modal analysis capabilities of the spider, using its legs as distinct distributed point sensors. To do this, we consider a numerical model of the web structure, including asymmetry in the design, prestress, and geometrical nonlinearity effects. We show how vibration signals deriving from impacts can be decomposed into web eigenmode components, through which the spider can efficiently trace the source location. Based on this numerical analysis, we discuss the role of the web structure, asymmetry, and prestress in the imaging mechanism, confirming the role of the latter in tuning the web response to achieve an efficient prey detection instrument. The results can be relevant for efficient distributed impact sensing applications.
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4
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Croft AS, Spessot E, Bhattacharjee P, Yang Y, Motta A, Wöltje M, Gantenbein B. Biomedical applications of silk and its role for intervertebral disc repair. JOR Spine 2022; 5:e1225. [PMID: 36601376 PMCID: PMC9799090 DOI: 10.1002/jsp2.1225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) is the main contributor to chronic low back pain. To date, the present therapies mainly focus on treating the symptoms caused by IDD rather than addressing the problem itself. For this reason, researchers have searched for a suitable biomaterial to repair and/or regenerate the IVD. A promising candidate to fill this gap is silk, which has already been used as a biomaterial for many years. Therefore, this review aims first to elaborate on the different origins from which silk is harvested, the individual composition, and the characteristics of each silk type. Another goal is to enlighten why silk is so suitable as a biomaterial, discuss its functionalization, and how it could be used for tissue engineering purposes. The second part of this review aims to provide an overview of preclinical studies using silk-based biomaterials to repair the inner region of the IVD, the nucleus pulposus (NP), and the IVD's outer area, the annulus fibrosus (AF). Since the NP and the AF differ fundamentally in their structure, different therapeutic approaches are required. Consequently, silk-containing hydrogels have been used mainly to repair the NP, and silk-based scaffolds have been used for the AF. Although most preclinical studies have shown promising results in IVD-related repair and regeneration, their clinical transition is yet to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas S. Croft
- Tissue Engineering for Orthopaedic & Mechanobiology, Bone & Joint Program, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), Medical FacultyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Eugenia Spessot
- Department of Industrial Engineering and BIOtech Research CenterUniversity of TrentoTrentoItaly,European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine UnitTrentoItaly
| | - Promita Bhattacharjee
- Department of Chemical SciencesSSPC the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals, Bernal Institute, University of LimerickLimerickIreland
| | - Yuejiao Yang
- Department of Industrial Engineering and BIOtech Research CenterUniversity of TrentoTrentoItaly,European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine UnitTrentoItaly,INSTM, Trento Research Unit, Interuniversity Consortium for Science and Technology of MaterialsTrentoItaly
| | - Antonella Motta
- Department of Industrial Engineering and BIOtech Research CenterUniversity of TrentoTrentoItaly,European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine UnitTrentoItaly,INSTM, Trento Research Unit, Interuniversity Consortium for Science and Technology of MaterialsTrentoItaly
| | - Michael Wöltje
- Institute of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material TechnologyDresdenGermany
| | - Benjamin Gantenbein
- Tissue Engineering for Orthopaedic & Mechanobiology, Bone & Joint Program, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), Medical FacultyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology, InselspitalBern University Hospital, Medical Faculty, University of BernBernSwitzerland
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5
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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.
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6
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Dunbar JP, Vitkauskaite A, Lawton C, Waddams B, Dugon MM. Webslinger vs. Dark Knight First record of a false widow spider
Steatoda nobilis
preying on a pipistrelle bat in Britain. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- John P. Dunbar
- Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute National University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Aiste Vitkauskaite
- Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute National University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Colin Lawton
- Animal Ecology and Conservation Group, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute National University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
| | - Ben Waddams
- Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute National University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
- Ben Waddams Wildlife Art Shropshire UK
| | - Michel M. Dugon
- Venom Systems & Proteomics Lab, School of Natural Sciences, Ryan Institute National University of Ireland Galway Galway Ireland
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7
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Suzuki Y, Mukaimine W. Prey–predator interactions and body size relationships between annual cicadas and spiders in Japan. J NAT HIST 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.2019340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuya Suzuki
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Wataru Mukaimine
- Doctoral Program in Biology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
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Dal Poggetto VF, Bosia F, Greco G, Pugno NM. Prey Impact Localization Enabled by Material and Structural Interaction in Spider Orb Webs. ADVANCED THEORY AND SIMULATIONS 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/adts.202100282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vinícius F. Dal Poggetto
- Laboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta Materials & Mechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering University of Trento Trento 38123 Italy
| | | | - Gabriele Greco
- Laboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta Materials & Mechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering University of Trento Trento 38123 Italy
| | - Nicola M. Pugno
- Laboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta Materials & Mechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering University of Trento Trento 38123 Italy
- School of Engineering and Materials Science Queen Mary University of London Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
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Vitkauskaite A, Dunbar JP, Lawton C, Dalagiorgos P, Allen MM, Dugon MM. Vertebrate prey capture by Latrodectus mactans (Walckenaer, 1805) and Steatoda triangulosa (Walckenaer, 1802) (Araneae, Theridiidae) provide further insights into the immobilization and hoisting mechanisms of large prey. FOOD WEBS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2021.e00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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10
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Xavier GM, Quero A, Moura RR, Vieira C, Meira FA, Gonzaga MO. Influence of web traits, height, and daily periods of exposition on prey captured by orb-weaver spiders. Behav Processes 2021; 193:104536. [PMID: 34728314 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Orb-webs show diversity in several traits, including silk types, architecture, physical properties, locale, and period of exposition. The investigation of how they determine the identity of intercepted prey is important to functional ecology and to the evaluation of trophic niche partitioning within communities. However, the influence of several of these variables on the composition of intercepted insects remains to be determined. In this study, we evaluated the effects of web architectural traits, height, and daily periods of exposition on the interception of different insects in terms of sizes, masses, and taxa. We conducted observations of prey intercepted by the orb webs of 16 sympatric spider species and artificial webs. We found that all orb webs mainly intercepted small and light insects, sharing the most abundant insect families found in the study area. However, spiders that show nocturnal activity, more radii in their webs, large and high webs captured heavier insects. Other orb-web traits, such as the density of capture threads did not influence the kind of intercepted insects. We discuss why some variables affected prey interceptions in terms of mass. Finally, we discuss the implications of these influential variables to functional ecology, niche differentiation, and how behavioral assessments can complete this investigation in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Máximo Xavier
- Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
| | - Adilson Quero
- Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Rafael Rios Moura
- Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil; Núcleo de Extensão e Pesquisa em Ecologia e Evolução (NEPEE), Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Naturais, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, Ituiutaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Camila Vieira
- Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Felipe André Meira
- Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
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11
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Tidy dataset of the experimental design of the optimization of the alkali degumming process of Bombyx mori silk. Data Brief 2021; 38:107294. [PMID: 34471657 PMCID: PMC8390695 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2021.107294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Silk fibroin is the structural fiber of the silk filament and it is usually separated from the external protein, named sericine, by a chemical process called degumming. This process consists of an alkali bath in which the silk cocoons are boiled for a determined time. It is also known that the degumming process impacts the property of the outcoming silk fibroin fibers. In this work, we described the dataset obtained from a Design of Experiment (DoE) screening made on the alkali degumming. Four process factors were considered: the number of degumming baths, the process time, the process temperature, and the salt concentration. The data on the properties of the silk fibroin fibers were collected. In particular, the molecular weight was obtained by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), the mechanical data by tensile test and the secondary structure by Fourier Infrared Transform Spectroscopy (FTIR).
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12
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Wolff JO. Locomotion and kinematics of arachnids. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2021; 207:99-103. [PMID: 33738532 PMCID: PMC8046687 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-021-01478-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A basic feature of animals is the capability to move and disperse. Arachnids are one of the oldest lineages of terrestrial animals and characterized by an octopodal locomotor apparatus with hydraulic limb extension. Their locomotion repertoire includes running, climbing, jumping, but also swimming, diving, abseiling, rolling, gliding and -passively- even flying. Studying the unique locomotor functions and movement ecology of arachnids is important for an integrative understanding of the ecology and evolution of this diverse and ubiquitous animal group. Beyond biology, arachnid locomotion is inspiring robotic engineers. The aim of this special issue is to display the state of the interdisciplinary research on arachnid locomotion, linking physiology and biomechanics with ecology, ethology and evolutionary biology. It comprises five reviews and ten original research reports covering diverse topics, ranging from the neurophysiology of arachnid movement, the allometry and sexual dimorphism of running kinematics, the effect of autotomy or heavy body parts on locomotor efficiency, and the evolution of silk-spinning choreography, to the biophysics of ballooning and ballistic webs. This closes a significant gap in the literature on animal biomechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas O Wolff
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Loitzer Str. 26, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
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