A spider's biological vibration filter: Micromechanical characteristics of a biomaterial surface
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
A strain-sensing lyriform organ (HS-10) found on all of the legs of a Central American wandering spider (Cupiennius salei) detects courtship, prey and predator vibrations transmitted by the plant on which it sits. It has been suggested that the viscoelastic properties of a cuticular pad directly adjacent to the sensory organ contribute to the organ's pronounced high-pass characteristics. Here, we investigate the micromechanical properties of the cuticular pad biomaterial in search of a deeper understanding of its impact on the function of the vibration sensor. These properties are considered to be an effective adaptation for the selective detection of signals for frequencies >40 Hz. Using surface force spectroscopy mapping we determine the elastic modulus of the pad surface over a temperature range of 15-40 °C at various loading frequencies. In the glassy state, the elastic modulus was ∼100 MPa, while in the rubbery state the elastic modulus decreased to 20 MPa. These data are analyzed according to the principle of time-temperature superposition to construct a master curve that relates mechanical properties, temperature and stimulus frequencies. By estimating the loss and storage moduli vs. temperature and frequency it was possible to make a direct comparison with electrophysiology experiments, and it was found that the dissipation of energy occurs within a frequency window whose position is controlled by environmental temperatures.
Details
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 4832-4842 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Acta biomaterialia |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 11 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2014 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
PubMed | 25065547 |
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ORCID | /0000-0002-2872-8277/work/142239163 |
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- Atomic force spectroscopy, Biomechanics, Biosensor materials, Stimulus transmission, Viscoelasticity