Japanese scientists from the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) have developed a technology for the production of artificial silk that is identical to its natural counterpart. It can be used in medicine for stitching and creating artificial ligaments. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Nature Communications (NatComms).
Engineers have designed a web-weaving device that recreates the complex molecular structure of silk by mimicking the chemical and physical changes in a real spider’s silk gland.
Spider silk is a biopolymer fiber composed of large proteins with repeated sequences called spidroins. The material contains molecular substructures (called beta sheets) that must be properly aligned for the threads to gain their unique strength.
Scientists managed to solve this problem through biomimicry by repeating the structure of the spider’s arachnoid gland. The device is a small box with microfluidic channels where the protein solution turns into a thin thread.
The researchers found that in order for the raw material to turn into silk, the compound had to be removed from the device using negative pressure. When trying to extrude the mixture did not turn into thread.
According to the authors of the discovery, the technology they created will help reduce the cost of silk production and make it more environmentally friendly.
Previously in Russia was created Material made of chitin and clay for cleaning radioactive waste.