Using hydrodynamic focusing to predictably alter the diameter of synthetic silk fibers

PLoS One. 2018 Apr 12;13(4):e0195522. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195522. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Spiders and silkworms provide a model of superior processing for multifunctional and highly versatile high-performance fibers. Mimicking the spider's complex control system for chemical and mechanical gradients has remained an ongoing obstacle for synthetic silk production. In this study, the use of hydrodynamic fluid focusing within a 3D printed biomimetic spinning system to recapitulate the biological spinneret is explored and shown to produce predictable, small diameter fibers. Mirroring in silico fluid flow simulations using a hydrodynamic microfluidic spinning technique, we have developed a model correlating spinning rates, solution viscosity and fiber diameter outputs that will significantly advance the field of synthetic silk fiber production. The use of hydrodynamic focusing to produce controlled output fiber diameter simulates the natural silk spinning process and continues to build upon a 3D printed biomimetic spinning platform.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomimetic Materials / chemistry*
  • Hydrodynamics*
  • Rheology
  • Shear Strength
  • Silk / chemistry*

Substances

  • Silk

Associated data

  • figshare/30785

Grants and funding

This work was funded by North Dakota State University Department of Mechanical Engineering, North Dakota NASA Experimental Program Stimulate Competitive Research (http://ndnasaepscor.und.edu/), the North Dakota Department of Commerce Phase 1 Venture grant (https://www.commerce.nd.gov/research/Programs/), and the National Science Foundation (grant # 1746111) (https://www.nsf.gov/).