Damping capacity is evolutionarily conserved in the radial silk of orb-weaving spiders

Kelly, Shalonda; Sensenig, Andrew T.; Lorentz, Kimberly A.; Blackledge, Todd A.

doi:10.1016/j.zool.2011.02.001

Cited by 43 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The existence of damping capacity below the yield strain is likely to be because the supramolecular fibers are "visco-elastic" (rather than "purely elastic") below the yield point and "visco-elasto-plastic" above the yield point. Again, such a profile has also been observed for spider silks, which have damping capacity that is low (at 5-30%) in the first cycle at 5% applied strain but increases to 30-70% in subsequent cycles of increasingly applied strain (30). The recovery strain and permanent set (permanent deformation) Representative stress-strain curve (n = 7) of a fiber subjected to a single loading-unloading-reloading cycle (indicated by arrowheads) at 5% strain.…”

Section: P1mentioning

confidence: 55%

Bioinspired supramolecular fibers drawn from a multiphase self-assembled hydrogel

Shah

Liu

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

131

114

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Inspired by biological systems, we report a supramolecular polymer-colloidal hydrogel (SPCH) composed of 98 wt % water that can be readily drawn into uniform (∼6-µm thick) "supramolecular fibers" at room temperature. Functionalized polymer-grafted silica nanoparticles, a semicrystalline hydroxyethyl cellulose derivative, and cucurbit[8]uril undergo aqueous self-assembly at multiple length scales to form the SPCH facilitated by host-guest interactions at the molecular level and nanofibril formation at colloidal-length scale. The fibers exhibit a unique combination of stiffness and high damping capacity (60-70%), the latter exceeding that of even biological silks and cellulose-based viscose rayon. The remarkable damping performance of the hierarchically structured fibers is proposed to arise from the complex combination and interactions of "hard" and "soft" phases within the SPCH and its constituents. SPCH represents a class of hybrid supramolecular composites, opening a window into fiber technology through low-energy manufacturing. supramolecular fiber | hydrogel | self-assembly | damping | spider silk I n nature, spiders spin silk fibers with superb properties at ambient temperatures and pressures (1, 2). We have yet to mimic such an elegant process. Conventionally, synthetic fibers are manufactured through a variety of spinning techniques, including wet, dry, gel, and electrospinning (3). Such approaches to generate fibers are limited by high energy input, laborious procedures, and intensive use of organic solvents. Supramolecular pathways enable the formation of filamentous soft materials that are showing promise in biomedical applications (4-6), such as cell culture (7-9) and tissue engineering (10). However, such materials are constrained by the length scale (submicrometer level) (11-13), energy intake during production (9), and complex design of assembly units (14).Here, we report drawing supramolecular fibers of arbitrary length from a dynamic supramolecular polymer-colloidal hydrogel (SPCH) at room temperature (Movie S1). The components consist of methyl viologen (MV)-functionalized polymer-grafted silica nanoparticles (P1), a semicrystalline polymer in the form of a hydroxyethyl cellulose derivative (H1), and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) as illustrated in Fig. 1. The macrocycle CB[8] is capable of simultaneously encapsulating two guests within its cavity, forming a stable yet dynamic ternary complex, and has been exploited as a supramolecular "handcuff" to physical cross-link functional polymers (15-18). Introducing shape-persistent nanoparticles into the supramolecular hydrogel system allows for modification of the local gel structures at the colloidal-length scale, resulting in assemblies with unique emergent properties (19). The hierarchical nature of the SPCH is presented, where the hydrogel is composed of nanoscale fibrillar structures. The self-assembled SPCH composite exhibits great elasticity at a remarkably high water content (98%), showing a low-energy manufacturing process for fibers from natural, ...

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Section: P1mentioning

confidence: 55%

Bioinspired supramolecular fibers drawn from a multiphase self-assembled hydrogel

Shah

Liu

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

131

114

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Accordingly, they need to be incorporated into webs under specific tensions (Craig, 2003;Sensenig et al, 2012). Too much tension will mean that prey, depending on its size and flight velocity, will either fly through the web or bounce off the web, a phenomenon known as the 'trampoline effect' (Craig, 2003;Blackledge and Hayashi, 2006;Kelly et al, 2011;Sensenig et al, 2012). Moreover, localized tearing becomes increasingly likely in strong wind if webs are under excessive tension.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wind induces variations in spider web geometry and sticky spiral droplet volume

Blamires

et al. 2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYTrap building by animals is rare because it comes at a substantial cost. Using materials with properties that vary across environments maintains trap functionality. The sticky spiral silks of spider orb webs are used to catch flying prey. Web geometry, accompanied by compensatory changes in silk properties, may change across environments to sustain web functionality. We exposed the spider Cyclosa mulmeinensis to wind to test whether wind-induced changes in web geometry are accompanied by changes in aggregate silk droplet morphology, axial thread width or spiral stickiness. We compared: (i) web catching area, (ii) length of total silks, (iii) mesh height, (iv) number of radii, (v) aggregate droplet morphology and (vi) spiral thread stickiness, between webs made by spiders exposed to wind and those made by spiders not exposed to wind. We interpreted co-variation in droplet morphology or spiral stickiness with web capture area, mesh height or spiral length as the silk properties functionally compensating for changes in web geometry to reduce wind drag. Wind-exposed C. mulmeinensis built webs with smaller capture areas, shorter capture spiral lengths and more widely spaced capture spirals, resulting in the expenditure of less silk. Individuals that were exposed to wind also deposited larger droplets of sticky silk but the stickiness of the spiral threads remained unchanged. The larger droplets may be a product of a greater investment in water, or low molecular weight compounds facilitating atmospheric water uptake. Either way, droplet dehydration in wind is likely to be minimized.

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“…Orb-webs constructed by large spiders such as A. aurantia have been selected to withstand the impacts of large, often fast-flying, highly profitable prey (Blackledge and Eliason, 2007;Sensenig et al, 2010;Harmer et al, 2011;Kelly et al, 2011;Sensenig et al, 2013). This is achieved principally through the energy absorbing toughness of the web's non-sticky radial lines, with viscous threads making only a minor contribution (Sensenig et al, 2012).…”

Section: Research Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature mediates the effect of humidity on the viscoelasticity of glycoprotein glue within the droplets of an orb-weaving spider's prey capture threads

Stellwagen

Opell

Short

2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Sticky viscous prey capture threads retain insects that strike araneoid orb-webs. The threads' two axial fibers support a series of glue droplets, each featuring a core of adhesive viscoelastic glycoprotein covered by an aqueous solution. After sticking, the glue extends, summing the adhesion of multiple droplets, and dissipates some of the energy of a struggling prey. As a day progresses, threads experience a drop in humidity and an increase in temperature, environmental variables that have the potential to alter thread and web function. We hypothesize that thread droplets respond to these opposing environmental changes in a manner that stabilizes their performance, and test this by examining threads spun by Argiope aurantia, a species that occupies exposed, weedy habitats. We confirmed that decreased humidity increases glycoprotein viscosity and found that increased temperature had the opposite effect. To evaluate the combined effect of temperature and humidity on a droplet's ability to transfer adhesive force and dissipate energy, we extended a droplet and measured both the deflection of the axial line supporting the droplet and the duration of its tensive load. The cumulative product of these two indices, which reflects the energy required to extend a droplet, was greatest under afternoon (hot and dry) conditions, less under morning (cool and humid) conditions, and least under hot and humid afternoon conditions. Although the opposing effects of temperature and humidity tend to stabilize glycoprotein performance, A. aurantia thread droplets appear to function optimally during the afternoon, equipping this species to capture large orthopterans, which are most active at this time.

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Damping capacity is evolutionarily conserved in the radial silk of orb-weaving spiders

Cited by 43 publications

References 26 publications

Bioinspired supramolecular fibers drawn from a multiphase self-assembled hydrogel

Bioinspired supramolecular fibers drawn from a multiphase self-assembled hydrogel

Wind induces variations in spider web geometry and sticky spiral droplet volume

Temperature mediates the effect of humidity on the viscoelasticity of glycoprotein glue within the droplets of an orb-weaving spider's prey capture threads

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