A spider's fang: How to design an injection needle using chitin-based composite material

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Yael Politi - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Autor:in)
  • Matthias Priewasser - , Technische Universitat Wien (Autor:in)
  • Eckhard Pippel - , Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics (Autor:in)
  • Paul Zaslansky - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Autor:in)
  • Jürgen Hartmann - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Autor:in)
  • Stefan Siegel - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Autor:in)
  • Chenghao Li - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Autor:in)
  • Friedrich G. Barth - , Universität Wien (Autor:in)
  • Peter Fratzl - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Autor:in)

Abstract

Spiders mainly feed on insects. This means that their fangs, which are used to inject venom into the prey, have to puncture the insect cuticle that is essentially made of the same material, a chitin-protein composite, as the fangs themselves. Here a series of structural modifications in the fangs of the wandering spider Cupiennius salei are reported, including texture variation in chitin orientation and arrangement, gradients in protein composition, and selective incorporation of metal ions (Zn and Ca) and halogens (Cl). These modifications influence the mechanical properties of the fang in a graded manner from tip to base, allowing it to perform as a multi-use injection needle that can break through insect cuticle, which is made of a chitin composite as well.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)2519-2528
Seitenumfang10
FachzeitschriftAdvanced functional materials
Jahrgang22
Ausgabenummer12
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 20 Juni 2012
Peer-Review-StatusJa
Extern publiziertJa

Externe IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-2872-8277/work/142239168

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • biomaterials, chitin, fiber composites, injection needles, mechanical properties