A team of researchers at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the United States is studying the molecular properties of spider silk to understand the mechanisms that give it strength and flexibility, and to utilize this knowledge in developing synthetic fibers that mimic its properties for use in textile industries and medical applications.
Unique Mechanical Properties
The American website Newsweek, specializing in scientific news and research, reported the day before yesterday that the study, led by Sarah Stillwagon, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the university, focuses on the distinctive mechanical properties of spider silk, which has a tensile strength of about 1.5 billion pascals, making it one of the most durable natural materials, in addition to its light weight, flexibility, and biodegradability.
Industrial Production Challenges
Stillwagon explained that the main challenge in producing silk industrially lies in converting the liquid protein produced by specialized glands in spiders into solid, durable fibers, a complex biological process that occurs inside a narrow channel where chemical conditions change, helping protein molecules aggregate and form cohesive structures known as beta sheets, before the fibers exit through the spinnerets.
Medical and Industrial Prospects
She noted that the team succeeded in producing silk protein, but has not yet been able to convert it into solid threads in quantities that meet commercial production requirements, pointing out that current research focuses on increasing the amount of produced protein and developing methods to convert it into fibers suitable for testing and industrial application, while the difficulty of breeding spiders in large numbers remains an obstacle to relying on them as a commercial source.
Scientists are also exploring the potential use of these fibers in medical fields due to their strength, flexibility, and biodegradability, and researchers are striving, through studying the mechanisms of silk production in spiders, to develop synthetic materials that combine durability, flexibility, and light weight, thereby opening the door to potential applications in medicine, textile manufacturing, and other advanced industries.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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