Novel Processing Technologies for Recombinant Spider Silk Proteins

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Novel Processing Technologies for Recombinant Spider Silk Proteins Novel Processing Technologies for Recombinant Spider Silk Proteins Von der Fakultät für Ingenieurwissenschaften der Universität Bayreuth zur Erlangung der Würde eines Doktor-Ingenieur (Dr.-Ing.) genehmigte Dissertation vorgelegt von Stephan Jokisch (M. Sc.) aus Hoyerswerda Erstgutachter: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Thomas Scheibel Zweitgutachter: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Volker Altstädt Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 14.10.2019 Lehrstuhl Biomaterialien Universität Bayreuth 2019 „Phantasie ist wichtiger als Wissen, denn Wissen ist begrenzt.“ - Albert Einstein - Contents Contents Contents ......................................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. vii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... xiv List of Abbreviations and Symbols ........................................................................................... xvi 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Polymers in modern production processes and the need of surface modification ........... 1 1.2 Filtration ............................................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Synthetic polymers ........................................................................................................... 4 1.3.1 Poly(ethylene terephthalate) ......................................................................................... 5 1.3.2 Poly(acrylonitrile) .......................................................................................................... 6 1.3.3 Poly(ethylene oxide) ..................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Biopolymers ...................................................................................................................... 8 1.4.1 Natural Polymers ........................................................................................................ 10 1.5 Properties of synthetic and natural polymers ................................................................. 15 1.6 Fiber production methods ............................................................................................... 18 1.6.1 Melt spinning ............................................................................................................... 20 1.6.2 Solution spinning methods .......................................................................................... 22 1.6.3 Centrifugal spinning methods ..................................................................................... 26 1.6.4 Electrospinning methods ............................................................................................ 27 1.7 Mechanical textile processing ......................................................................................... 34 1.7.1 Compacting ................................................................................................................. 34 1.7.2 Calendering ................................................................................................................. 34 1.7.3 Raising or napping ...................................................................................................... 35 1.7.4 Sueding ....................................................................................................................... 35 1.8 Coating methods ............................................................................................................. 36 1.8.1 Protective planar coatings in form of closed layers .................................................... 36 1.8.2 Special coatings in form of nonwoven meshes .......................................................... 38 1.9 Motivation and aim of the thesis ..................................................................................... 40 iv Contents 2 Materials and Methods ................................................................................................. 43 2.1 Materials and instruments ............................................................................................... 43 2.1.1 Chemicals and Consumables ..................................................................................... 43 2.1.2 Textiles and yarns ....................................................................................................... 44 2.1.3 Instruments and devices ............................................................................................. 45 2.1.4 Software ...................................................................................................................... 47 2.2 Recombinant production of ChryC1 lacewing and eADF4(C16) spider silk proteins ..... 48 2.3 Foam processing from spider silk solutions .................................................................... 48 2.4 Foam coating of fibers and fabrics .................................................................................. 49 2.5 Processing of spider silk protein and polymer solutions for production of nonwoven meshes .......................................................................................................... 50 2.5.1 Electrospinning ............................................................................................................ 50 2.5.2 Centrifuge electrospinning........................................................................................... 50 2.6 Processing of nonwoven meshes for filter production .................................................... 51 2.7 Analytical methods .......................................................................................................... 52 2.7.1 Spectroscopic methods ............................................................................................... 52 2.7.2 Microscopy .................................................................................................................. 53 2.7.3 Rheological characterization of foaming and spinning dopes ..................................... 54 2.7.4 Analysis of coating stability and efficiency .................................................................. 55 2.7.5 Mechanical analytical methods for foam coated yarns and textiles ............................ 55 2.7.6 Filtration efficiency tests .............................................................................................. 57 3 Results ........................................................................................................................... 59 3.1 Protective effects of spider silk foam coatings on furniture textiles ................................ 59 3.1.1 Textiles and yarns for coating ..................................................................................... 59 3.1.2 Rheological analysis of spider silk foaming dopes ...................................................... 60 3.1.3 Analysis of foam coating parameters .......................................................................... 62 3.1.4 Distribution of spider silk foams on furniture textiles ................................................... 63 3.1.5 Coating stability and protective effects of spider silk on single yarns ......................... 64 3.1.6 Abrasion tests of spider silk coated fabrics ................................................................. 66 3.2 Electrospun nonwoven mesh for the improvement of a filtration surface ....................... 68 3.2.1 Preliminary analyzes ................................................................................................... 68 3.2.2 Electrospun nonwoven fiber meshes for filtration purposes ....................................... 71 3.2.3 Centrifuge electrospinning parameter analysis for large scale nonwoven mesh production .................................................................................................................... 88 v Contents 3.3 Influences of E- and CE-spinning on the resulting fiber mesh quality ............................ 94 3.3.1 Comparison of resulting fiber diameter in classical and centrifuge electrospinning ............................................................................................................ 95 3.3.2 Influence of ES and CES on the secondary structure of spider silk fibers ................. 98 4 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 101 4.1 Coating of industrially produced fibers using spider silk proteins ................................. 101 4.1.1 Influence of shear forces and surfactant deployment on foam production ............... 102 4.1.2 Adhesion behavior of spider silk proteins on different yarn fiber materials .............. 105 4.1.3 Stabilizing and protective effects of spider silk protein foam coatings ..................... 106 4.2 Fiber production based on spider silk proteins ............................................................. 110 4.2.1 Differences in the dope materials and their rheological effects and concentration ranges ................................................................................................ 110 4.2.2 The field strength as guiding spinning parameter for upscaling
Recommended publications
  • New Synthetic Fibers Come from Natural Sources by Maria C
    %" m •*^.. ? •^^:; m^ "•~.y.-, .-,. Id X LCI New Synthetic Fibers Come from Natural Sources By Maria C. Thiry, Features Editor n the beginning, textile fibers of applications for synthetic fibers able properties, such abrasion resis- came from the natural world: and their increasing popularity. Cot- tance, stain repellency, and wrinkle animal skins, hair, and wool; silk ton producers decided to fight back. resistance. In addition, according to from silkworms; and plants like Cotton Incorporated's famous market- Wallace, genetic research has gone into a flax, cotton, and hemp. For ing campaign is credited for bringing improving the quality of the fiber it- Icenturies, all textiles came from fibers the public's attention and loyalty self—qualities such as increased that were harvested fron:i a plant, ani- "back to nature." length, and improved strength of the mal, or insect. Then, at the beginning "Cotton is the original high-tech fiber over the last 30 years. "In the of the 20th century, people discovered fiber," says the company's Michelle marketplace, it is important to have a that they could create textile fibers of Wallace. The fiber's material proper- differentiated product," notes Cotton their own. Those early synthetic fibers ties, such as moisture management, Incorporated's Ira Livingston. "We are still originated in a natural source— comfortable hand, and wet tensile continually looking for ways to intro- cellulose from wood pulp—but soon strength contribute to its appeal. The duce cotton that surprises the con- enough in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, a development of various finishes has sumer. One of those ways is our re- stream of synthetic fibers came on the given cotton fabrics additional favor- search into biogenetics, to enhance scene that owed their origins to chemical plants instead of plants Cotton's Share of Market that could be grown in a field.
    [Show full text]
  • Secretariat of the CBD Technical Series No. 82 Convention on Biological Diversity
    Secretariat of the CBD Technical Series No. 82 Convention on Biological Diversity 82 SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY FOREWORD To be added by SCBD at a later stage. 1 BACKGROUND 2 In decision X/13, the Conference of the Parties invited Parties, other Governments and relevant 3 organizations to submit information on, inter alia, synthetic biology for consideration by the Subsidiary 4 Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), in accordance with the procedures 5 outlined in decision IX/29, while applying the precautionary approach to the field release of synthetic 6 life, cell or genome into the environment. 7 Following the consideration of information on synthetic biology during the sixteenth meeting of the 8 SBSTTA, the Conference of the Parties, in decision XI/11, noting the need to consider the potential 9 positive and negative impacts of components, organisms and products resulting from synthetic biology 10 techniques on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, requested the Executive Secretary 11 to invite the submission of additional relevant information on this matter in a compiled and synthesised 12 manner. The Secretariat was also requested to consider possible gaps and overlaps with the applicable 13 provisions of the Convention, its Protocols and other relevant agreements. A synthesis of this 14 information was thus prepared, peer-reviewed and subsequently considered by the eighteenth meeting 15 of the SBSTTA. The documents were then further revised on the basis of comments from the SBSTTA 16 and peer review process, and submitted for consideration by the twelfth meeting of the Conference of 17 the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
    [Show full text]
  • Spider Silk for Tissue Engineering Applications
    molecules Review Spider Silk for Tissue Engineering Applications Sahar Salehi 1, Kim Koeck 1 and Thomas Scheibel 1,2,3,4,5,* 1 Department for Biomaterials, University of Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Strasse 1, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany; [email protected] (S.S.); [email protected] (K.K.) 2 The Bayreuth Center for Colloids and Interfaces (BZKG), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany 3 The Bayreuth Center for Molecular Biosciences (BZMB), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany 4 The Bayreuth Materials Center (BayMAT), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany 5 Bavarian Polymer Institute (BPI), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +49-0-921-55-6700 Received: 15 January 2020; Accepted: 6 February 2020; Published: 8 February 2020 Abstract: Due to its properties, such as biodegradability, low density, excellent biocompatibility and unique mechanics, spider silk has been used as a natural biomaterial for a myriad of applications. First clinical applications of spider silk as suture material go back to the 18th century. Nowadays, since natural production using spiders is limited due to problems with farming spiders, recombinant production of spider silk proteins seems to be the best way to produce material in sufficient quantities. The availability of recombinantly produced spider silk proteins, as well as their good processability has opened the path towards modern biomedical applications. Here, we highlight the research on spider silk-based materials in the field of tissue engineering and summarize various two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds made of spider silk.
    [Show full text]
  • AMYNC9 英語版 WEB.Pdf
    Manufacturer AMANO ENZYME U.S.A. CO., LTD. 1415 Madeline Lane, Elgin, IL 60124 U.S.A. Tel :+1-847-649-0101 Fax:+1- 847- 649 - 0205 AMANO ENZYME EUROPE LTD. Roundway House, Cromwell Park, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5SR, U.K. Tel : + 4 4 -( 0 )1 6 0 8 - 6 4 4 6 7 7 F a x : + 4 4 -( 0 )1 6 0 8 - 6 4 4 3 3 6 http://www.amano-enzyme.co.jp/ AMANO ENZYME MANUFACTURING (CHINA), LTD. SHANGHAI BRANCH C3-5F“800SHOW”, No.800, ChangDe Road, Shanghai 200040, P.R.China AMANO ENZYME INC.(Publisher) Tel : + 8 6 -( 0 )2 1 - 6 2 4 9 - 0 8 1 0 Head Office: Tokyo Office: F a x : + 8 6 -( 0 )2 1 - 6 2 4 8 - 7 0 2 6 2-7, 1-chome, 1-1, 1-chome, Uchisaiwai-cho, Nishiki, Naka-Ku, Nagoya, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, AMANO ENZYME ASIA PACIFIC CO., LTD. 460-8630 Japan 100-0011 Japan Room No.1116, Innovation Cluster 2 Building, Tower D, 141 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Road, Tel : + 8 1 -( 0 )5 2 - 2 1 1 - 3 0 3 2 Tel : + 8 1 -( 0 )3 - 3 5 9 7 - 0 5 2 1 Khlong Nueng, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand F a x : + 8 1 -( 0 )5 2 - 2 1 1 - 3 0 5 4 F a x : + 8 1 -( 0 )3 - 3 5 9 7 - 0 5 2 7 Tel : + 6 6 -( 0 )2 - 1 1 7 - 8 3 9 0 E-mail : [email protected] F a x : + 6 6 -( 0 )2 - 1 1 7 - 8 3 9 2 April.2019 Jokichi Takamine Study Group, NPO Professor Jokichi Takamine Living in the turbulent times of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Jokichi Takamine left his mark not only as a scientist and entrepreneur but also in international diplomacy.
    [Show full text]
  • Sticky Tales
    Eleanor Morgan is an artist based in London, where she is working towards a PhD at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London. She works in a variety of media, including / performance, print, sculpture, and video, to explore our material and mythical entanglement with animals. Her PhD thesis focuses on the history of human uses of spider silk. Details and images of her work can be seen on her website at http://www.eleanormorgan.com Article Email: [email protected] Sticky Tales Spiders, Silk, and Human Attachments Eleanor Morgan, University College London / __________________________________________ Every autumn I am overrun with spiders. More specifically, female orb-weaving spiders. During the gossamer days of September and October, their webs seem to cover every tree, bush, and railing. It is the glint of these webs that first attracted me, as it has attracted so many other spider enthusiasts — the seductive glance of spider’s silk, created by a creature more likely to instil in us fear than attraction. Humans have collected spider’s silk for centuries. Women in Bermuda used it for sewing, communities in the South Pacific used it to make fishing nets and lines, and since the time of the Ancient Greeks, spider webs have been used to help heal wounds — a possibility that is still being explored today in biomedical research using artificial silk. Yet unlike silkworms, spiders have resisted all attempts at large-scale harvesting. Even recent research into artificial silk has been unable to replicate the mysterious transformation of liquid protein to solid silk that takes place in the body of the spider.
    [Show full text]
  • Along Came a Spider—Spinning Silk for Cross-Hairs the Search for Cross-Hairs for Scientific Instrumentation, Part II
    Along Came a Spider—Spinning Silk For Cross-Hairs The Search for Cross-Hairs for Scientific Instrumentation, Part II Ancient Greeks used spider web to close wounds, Australian aborig- fibers first must be separated so that the primary line remains a ines used spider silk to fashion fishing lines, and natives of New single uniform thread.20 Guinea used it to weave fishing nets and bags. In modern times it The use of spider silk for scientific instruments came into its has proven its value for making cross-hairs for scientific instruments. own again by the beginning of World War II. Although a spi- der’s web lasts only one or two days, after which the build up n his published study of American spiders, Willis J. of atmospheric dust ruins the filament’s tackiness making it dif- Gertsch of the Department of Insects and Spiders of ficult to trap prey, the durability of spider web filaments could the American Museum of Natural History in New be measured in years, when sealed or encapsulated for the York, wrote that even prior to World War I spider silk cross-hairs in gun sights and telescopes. Filaments continued to was being used very extensively for cross-hairs and be used for this purpose until the 1960s. sighting marks in a great variety of engineering, labo- An undated announcement from London during the war Iratory and fire-control instruments. There was nothing superi- years entitled “Progress Traps Spiders’ Webs” reported that or to spider silk, he claimed, for transits, levels, theodolites, “spiders have entered the thousands of the unemployed in Britain, astronomical telescopes and many other optical devices.
    [Show full text]
  • 2010 Rust and Vetter. Influence of Spider Silk on Refugia Preferences of the Recluse Spiders Loxosceles
    HOUSEHOLD AND STRUCTURAL INSECTS Influence of Spider Silk on Refugia Preferences of the Recluse Spiders Loxosceles reclusa and Loxosceles laeta (Araneae: Sicariidae) 1 RICHARD S. VETTER AND MICHAEL K. RUST Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521 J. Econ. Entomol. 103(3): 808Ð815 (2010); DOI: 10.1603/EC09419 ABSTRACT In a previous experimental study, recluse spiders Loxosceles reclusa Gertsch and Mulaik and Loxosceles laeta (Nicolet) (Araneae: Sicariidae) preferred small cardboard refugia covered with conspeciÞc silk compared with never-occupied refugia. Herein, we investigated some factors that might be responsible for this preference using similar cardboard refugia. When the two Loxosceles species were given choices between refugia previously occupied by their own and by the congeneric species, neither showed a species-speciÞc preference; however, each chose refugia coated with conspeciÞc silk rather than those previously inhabited by a distantly related cribellate spider, Met- altella simoni (Keyserling). When L. laeta spiders were offered refugia that were freshly removed from silk donors compared with heated, aged refugia from the same silk donor, older refugia were preferred. Solvent extracts of L. laeta silk were chosen approximately as often as control refugia when a range of solvents (methylene chloride:methanol, water, and hexane) were used. However, when acetone was used on similar silk, there was a statistical preference for the control, indicating that there might be a mildly repellent aspect to acetone-washed silk. Considering the inability to show attraction to chemical aspects of fresh silk, it seems that physical attributes may be more important for selection and that there might be repellency to silk of a recently vacated spider.
    [Show full text]
  • Hybrid Spider Silk with Inorganic Nanomaterials
    nanomaterials Review Hybrid Spider Silk with Inorganic Nanomaterials Aleksandra P. Kiseleva 1, Grigorii O. Kiselev 1, Valeria O. Nikolaeva 1, Gulaim Seisenbaeva 2 , Vadim Kessler 2,* , Pavel V. Krivoshapkin 1 and Elena F. Krivoshapkina 1,* 1 SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, Lomonosova St. 9, 191002 Saint Petersburg, Russia; [email protected] (A.P.K.); [email protected] (G.O.K.); [email protected] (V.O.N.); [email protected] (P.V.K.) 2 Department of Molecular Sciences, Biocenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7015, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] (V.K.); [email protected] (E.F.K.); Tel.: +46-186-71-541 (V.K.); +7-981-951-18-92 (E.F.K.) Received: 12 August 2020; Accepted: 14 September 2020; Published: 16 September 2020 Abstract: High-performance functional biomaterials are becoming increasingly requested. Numerous natural and artificial polymers have already demonstrated their ability to serve as a basis for bio-composites. Spider silk offers a unique combination of desirable aspects such as biocompatibility, extraordinary mechanical properties, and tunable biodegradability, which are superior to those of most natural and engineered materials. Modifying spider silk with various inorganic nanomaterials with specific properties has led to the development of the hybrid materials with improved functionality. The purpose of using these inorganic nanomaterials is primarily due to their chemical nature, enhanced by large surface areas and quantum size phenomena. Functional properties of nanoparticles can be implemented to macro-scale components to produce silk-based hybrid materials, while spider silk fibers can serve as a matrix to combine the benefits of the functional components.
    [Show full text]
  • A Supertough Electro-Tendon Based on Spider Silk Composites
    ARTICLE https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14988-5 OPEN A supertough electro-tendon based on spider silk composites Liang Pan1, Fan Wang2, Yuan Cheng 3, Wan Ru Leow1, Yong-Wei Zhang3, Ming Wang1, Pingqiang Cai 1, ✉ ✉ Baohua Ji4, Dechang Li 4 & Xiaodong Chen 1 Compared to transmission systems based on shafts and gears, tendon-driven systems offer a simpler and more dexterous way to transmit actuation force in robotic hands. However, 1234567890():,; current tendon fibers have low toughness and suffer from large friction, limiting the further development of tendon-driven robotic hands. Here, we report a super tough electro-tendon based on spider silk which has a toughness of 420 MJ/m3 and conductivity of 1,077 S/cm. The electro-tendon, mechanically toughened by single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and electrically enhanced by PEDOT:PSS, can withstand more than 40,000 bending- stretching cycles without changes in conductivity. Because the electro-tendon can simulta- neously transmit signals and force from the sensing and actuating systems, we use it to replace the single functional tendon in humanoid robotic hand to perform grasping functions without additional wiring and circuit components. This material is expected to pave the way for the development of robots and various applications in advanced manufacturing and engineering. 1 Innovative Centre for Flexible Devices (iFLEX), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore. 2 Biomechanics and Biomaterials Laboratory, Department of Applied Mechanics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China. 3 Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Fusionopolis Way, Singapore 138632, ✉ Singapore.
    [Show full text]
  • Mechanical Properties and Application Analysis of Spider Silk Bionic Material
    e-Polymers 2020; 20: 443–457 Review Article Yunqing Gu, Lingzhi Yu, Jiegang Mou*, Denghao Wu, Peijian Zhou, and Maosen Xu Mechanical properties and application analysis of spider silk bionic material https://doi.org/10.1515/epoly-2020-0049 conveniences to people’s lives, but also caused serious received April 02, 2020; accepted July 15, 2020 “white pollution” problems due to their inability to Abstract: Spider silk is a kind of natural biomaterial with recycle and the lack of biodegradability. Now that superior performance. Its mechanical properties and sustainable development has become a common theme ’ biocompatibility are incomparable with those of other in today s world, it is increasingly urgent to develop natural and artificial materials. This article first sum- materials that meet sustainable development. So, the marizes the structure and the characteristics of natural research and development of biomaterials has become a ( ) spider silk. It shows the great research value of spider silk research hotspot 1,2 . Among the natural biological and spider silk bionic materials. Then, the development materials, spider silk has attracted more and more status of spider silk bionic materials is reviewed from the scholars with its excellent comprehensive properties. perspectives of material mechanical properties and Natural spider silk is a natural protein biomaterial application. The part of the material characteristics secreted by spiders through their silk glands. It belongs fi mainly describes the biocomposites based on spider silk to a type of bioelastic ber. It is one of the best materials ( ) proteins and spider silk fibers, nanomaterials and man- produced in nature 3 . As early as thousands of years - made fiber materials based on spider silk and spider-web ago, people had a certain understanding of the applica structures.
    [Show full text]
  • Functionalization of Spider Silk with Affinity and Bioactive Domains Via Genetic Engineering for in Vitro Disease Diagnosis and Tissue Engineering
    Functionalization of spider silk with affinity and bioactive domains via genetic engineering for in vitro disease diagnosis and tissue engineering Naresh Thatikonda Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, KTH Royal Institute of Technology School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health Stockholm, Sweden 2018 © Naresh Thatikonda, Stockholm 2018 KTH Royal Institute of Technology School of Engineering Science in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health Department of Protein Science AlbaNova University Center SE-106 91 Stockholm Sweden Cover image: Representation of functionalized spider silk for its use in disease diagnosis and tissue engineering. Printed by Universitetsservice, US-AB, 2018 ISBN 978-91-7729-970-7 TRITA-CBH-FOU-2018:48 Abstract In the recent past, spider silk has drawn significant attention from researchers mainly due to its distinguished mechanical strength, elasticity, biocompatibility and biodegradability. Technological advancements in genetic engineering have resulted in methods for creation of partial spider silk proteins. The main objective of this thesis has been to functionalize a partial spider silk protein, 4RepCT, with different affinity and bioactive domains via genetic engineering. Furthermore, the applicability of materials based on functionalized/bioactivated partial spider silk proteins for in vitro disease diagnosis and tissue engineering applications has been investigated. In Paper I, four affinity domains of different sizes and folds were genetically attached to 4RepCT. All four silk fusion proteins could self-assemble to silk-like fibers. The retained ability of each added affinity domain to bind its respective target while in silk format was also verified. A construct where a monomeric streptavidin domain was genetically fused to 4RepCT was used to allow non-covalent presentation of biotinylated growth factors.
    [Show full text]
  • The Art and Design of Spider Silk, September 27, 2019 – April 19, 2020
    The Art and Design of Spider Silk, September 27, 2019 – April 19, 2020 Since ancient times, fiber production and weaving have been associated with spiders and their silken webs, long enchanting artists around the world. Spider silk is a unique and extremely rare material: its tensile strength, heat conductivity, fineness, and elasticity remain unmatched, and its natural golden color is lustrous and astonishing. Artists and designers have recently been joined by a host of engineers looking to reimagine new applications for this biodegradable and immensely sustainable material. For many researchers, the ultimate goal of replicating spider silk is to wean consumers off petrochemical-based fabrics such as nylon and spandex. This exhibition highlights recent low-tech and cutting-edge examples in the evolving artistry and biotechnology of spider silk. These works are presented in conversation with historical design examples celebrating spiders and their webs. Laurie Anne Brewer Associate Curator, Costume and Textiles RISD Museum CHECKLIST OF THE EXHIBITION Golden orb spiders (Nephila genus) are found around the world. Nephila pilipes lives in Australia and much of Asia, and Nephila clavipes is native to areas of North and South America. Nephila madagascariensis is found in Madagascar, off the coast of Africa. To harvest spider silk, a Nephila female must be captured, restrained in a harness, and “silked”—much like a cow is milked—for several minutes before being returned to the wild. During one silking session, a female spider produces between 40 and 100 meters of filament. Twenty-four of these filaments were twisted together to create the golden spider-silk thread shown below.
    [Show full text]