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Viscoelastic solids explain spider web stickiness

Author

Listed:
  • Vasav Sahni

    (Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron)

  • Todd A. Blackledge

    (Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron)

  • Ali Dhinojwala

    (Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron)

Abstract

Modern orb-weaving spiders have evolved well-designed adhesives to capture preys. This adhesive is laid on a pair of axial silk fibres as micron-sized glue droplets that are composed of an aqueous coat of salts surrounding nodules made of glycoproteins. In this study, we measure the adhesive forces required to separate a small microscopic probe after bringing it in contact with a single glue droplet. These forces are highly rate-dependent and are two orders of magnitude higher than the capillary forces. The glycoproteins in the glue droplets behave as a viscoelastic solid and the elasticity is critical in enhancing adhesion caused by specific adhesive ligands. These results have important implications in mimicking bioadhesives.

Suggested Citation

  • Vasav Sahni & Todd A. Blackledge & Ali Dhinojwala, 2010. "Viscoelastic solids explain spider web stickiness," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 1(1), pages 1-4, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:1:y:2010:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1019
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1019
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    Cited by:

    1. Huaiqing Luo & Pengwei Li & Junjie Ma & Xue Li & He Zhu & Yajie Cheng & Qin Li & Qun Xu & Yiqiang Zhang & Yanlin Song, 2023. "Bioinspired “cage traps” for closed-loop lead management of perovskite solar cells under real-world contamination assessment," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.

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