A Spider's Fang: How to Design an Injection Needle Using Chitin-Based Composite Material

Spiders mainly feed on insects. This means that their fangs, which are used to inject venom into the prey, have to puncture the insect cuticle that is essentially made of the same material, a chitin‐protein composite, as the fangs themselves. Here a series of structural modifications in the fangs of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advanced functional materials 2012-06, Vol.22 (12), p.2519-2528
Main Authors: Politi, Yael, Priewasser, Matthias, Pippel, Eckhard, Zaslansky, Paul, Hartmann, Jürgen, Siegel, Stefan, Li, Chenghao, Barth, Friedrich G., Fratzl, Peter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biomaterials
chitin
fiber composites
injection needles
mechanical properties
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Summary:Spiders mainly feed on insects. This means that their fangs, which are used to inject venom into the prey, have to puncture the insect cuticle that is essentially made of the same material, a chitin‐protein composite, as the fangs themselves. Here a series of structural modifications in the fangs of the wandering spider Cupiennius salei are reported, including texture variation in chitin orientation and arrangement, gradients in protein composition, and selective incorporation of metal ions (Zn and Ca) and halogens (Cl). These modifications influence the mechanical properties of the fang in a graded manner from tip to base, allowing it to perform as a multi‐use injection needle that can break through insect cuticle, which is made of a chitin composite as well. Spiders use their fangs to inject venom into their prey. Structural and chemical modifications of chitin within the fangs of the spider Cupiennius salei influence the fang mechanical properties, allowing them to function as a multi‐use injection needle. The needle is able to puncture the prey cuticle, which is made essentially of the same material, a chitin‐protein composite.
ISSN:1616-301X
1616-3028
DOI:10.1002/adfm.201200063