ArticlePhilosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences2021
The spider cuticle: a remarkable material toolbox for functional diversity.
Article in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 38 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evolutionary dynamics of the arthropod molting machinery.Molecular biology and evolution · 2026Review
- The Genetic Basis of Color Polymorphism in the Orb-Web SpiderEcology and evolution · 2026Article
- The Molecular Basis of Growth Control in Guanine Crystals.Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) · 2026Article
- Ecosystem services provided by spiders.Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society · 2025Review
- Bio-Inspired Interlocking Micro-Patterning for Tunable, Switchable and Selective Adhesion in Wet and Dusty Environments.Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) · 2025Article
- A Bio-Inspired Perspective on Materials Sustainability.Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) · 2025Article
- How do roses build failure-resistant anchoring tools?PNAS nexus · 2024Article
- Specialized structure and function of the apical extracellular matrix at sense organs.Cells & development · 2024Review
- Curving expectations: The minimal impact of structural curvature in biological puncture mechanics.Science advances · 2024Article
- Mechanical and elemental characterization of ant mandibles: consequences for bite mechanics.Interface focus · 2024Article
- Structural Color from Cellulose Nanocrystals or Chitin Nanocrystals: Self-Assembly, Optics, and Applications.Chemical reviews · 2023Review
- Spider dynamics under vertical vibration and its implications for biological vibration sensing.Journal of the Royal Society, Interface · 2023Article
- Article
- Revealing the Structural Coloration of Self-Assembled Chitin Nanocrystal Films.Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Engineered systems are typically based on a large variety of materials differing in composition and processing to provide the desired functionality. Nature, however, has evolved materials that are used for a wide range of functional challenges with minimal compositional changes. The exoskeletal cuticle of spiders, as well as of other arthropods such as insects and crustaceans, is based on a combination of chitin, protein, water and small amounts of organic cross-linkers or minerals. Spiders use it to obtain mechanical support structures and lever systems for locomotion, protection from adverse environmental influences, tools for piercing, cutting and interlocking, auxiliary structures for the transmission and filtering of sensory information, structural colours, transparent lenses for light manipulation and more. This paper illustrates the 'design space' of a single type of composite with varying internal architecture and its remarkable capability to serve a diversity of functions. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bio-derived and bioinspired sustainable advanced materials for emerging technologies (part 1)'.
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