How Can You Use Spider Silk?
WouterSpider silk is a protein fibre spun by spiders. The spiders use it to construct webs, as well as to make egg sacs and nests. This natural marvel is one of the toughest fibers around, weighing as much as a feather, and it is incredibly flexible. Its versatility makes it an excellent choice for a variety of textile applications.
Spider silk has many potential uses, including sports clothing, wear-resistant light clothing, biodegradable bottles, and biodegradable containers. Scientists are also exploring its potential as an antimicrobial agent and for healing burns. It can be used for support structures for weak blood vessels, and it can help reconnect severed nerves.
The potential for spider silk to revolutionize the textile industry is obvious. Its flexibility and strength are several times stronger than steel, and it can be applied to bulletproof body armor, parachutes, and artificial ligaments.
Historically, the silk was woven into garments for royalty in India and China. The ancient Greeks and Romans used spider webs to treat bleeding wounds. However, harvesting spider silk is difficult and expensive.
Since then, scientists have tried to replicate some components of the spider’s silk. These proteins, called spidroins, are extracted and purified. Some have been genetically engineered. Others have been replicated in other organisms.
A team at the University of Nottingham recently developed an antibiotic synthetic spider silk. The silk could be used to treat wounds, diabetic ulcers, and various other medical conditions. The silk is a fibrous protein that can absorb kinetic energy from its prey.
