Date of Award:

5-2016

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Biological Engineering

Committee Chair(s)

Randolph V. Lewis

Committee

Randolph V. Lewis

Committee

Ronald Sims

Committee

Charles Miller

Committee

Jon Takemoto

Committee

David W. Britt

Abstract

Dragline spider silk is among the strongest known biomaterials. It is the silk used for the framework of the web and it is used to catch the spider if it falls. As such, it is stronger and much more flexible than KEVLAR©. Studies show that dragline silk is made of two proteins, Major Ampullate Spider Proteins 1 and 2 (MaSp1 and MaSp2). Due to its incredible mechanical properties, spider silk is being considered for use as a new biomaterial for drug delivery and tendon and ligament replacement/repair, as well as athletic gear, military applications, airbags, and tire cords. However, spiders can't be farmed. Therefore, methods of mass-producing synthetic spider silk have been developed.

This study has created a process which can produce synthetic spider silk fibers with the best mechanical properties reported to date. Our process has been patented and is used to spin synthetic spider silk, silk/PHB composite fibers, silk/carbon nanotube fibers and aqueous fibers. Changing the conditions under which we create fibers, such as the solvent used to create the dope, the ratio of proteins used, the make-up of the stretch bath and the amount we stretch a fiber, can change their mechanical properties. This allows us to tailor our fibers to the application for which they are being produced.

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