Spider chitin: An Ultrafast Microwave-Assisted Method for Chitin Isolation from Caribena versicolor Spider Molt Cuticle
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Chitin, as a fundamental polysaccharide in invertebrate skeletons, continues to be actively investigated, especially with respect to new sources and the development of effective methods for its extraction. Recent attention has been focused on marine crustaceans and sponges; however, the potential of spiders (order Araneae) as an alternative source of tubular chitin has been overlooked. In this work, we focused our attention on chitin from up to 12 cm-large Theraphosidae spiders, popularly known as tarantulas or bird-eating spiders. These organisms “lose” large quantities of cuticles during their molting cycle. Here, we present for the first time a highly effective method for the isolation of chitin from Caribena versicolor spider molt cuticle, as well as its identification and characterization using modern analytical methods. We suggest that the tube-like molt cuticle of this spider can serve as a naturally prefabricated and renewable source of tubular chitin with high potential for application in technology and biomedicine.
Details
Original language | English |
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Article number | 3736 |
Journal | Molecules |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 20 |
Publication status | Published - 16 Oct 2019 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
PubMed | 31623238 |
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ORCID | /0000-0002-0633-0321/work/141544789 |
ORCID | /0000-0002-6932-333X/work/142239655 |
Keywords
Sustainable Development Goals
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- Biopolymers, Chitin, Extraction, Melanin, Microwave, Spider molt cuticle