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

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Yael Politi - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Author)
  • Matthias Priewasser - , Vienna University of Technology (Author)
  • Eckhard Pippel - , Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics (Author)
  • Paul Zaslansky - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Author)
  • Jürgen Hartmann - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Author)
  • Stefan Siegel - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Author)
  • Chenghao Li - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Author)
  • Friedrich G. Barth - , University of Vienna (Author)
  • Peter Fratzl - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Author)

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

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2519-2528
Number of pages10
JournalAdvanced functional materials
Volume22
Issue number12
Publication statusPublished - 20 Jun 2012
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

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

Keywords

Keywords

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