An international group of researchers, including scientists from ITMO, Tel Aviv University, and the University of Aveiro, has proposed a way to enhance the mechanical characteristics of spider silk. Their method involves adding magnetic nanoparticles to the silk glands of spiders.
Spider silk is a strong, elastic (30-40% elongation), lightweight, thin, and biocompatible natural material. It surpasses Kevlar in strength and is resistant to temperature changes. These properties make spider silk promising for medicine (tissue regeneration), ecology, and robotics.
Scientists have developed a way to make spider silk 1.82 times stronger by introducing iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles into the silk glands of tarantulas. This change in the structure of the spidroin protein, which increases the number of strong β-sheets, does not affect the lightness and flexibility of the spider silk but gives it magnetic properties. This discovery will allow the creation of flexible robots with magnetic joint control and the use of modified silk as a strong and elastic base for microelectronics.
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