Tufts University Scientists Develop Stick Silk Web for Remote Object Capturing

by Sylvia January 24, 2025

In the world of gadgets and technology, we are slowly but surely bringing our childhood imaginations to life. From Inspector Gadget’s video watch to Star Trek’s tricorders, many of our childhood dreams are becoming a reality. However, one crossover we never expected was web-shooting and web-slinging, inspired by Spider-Man. But that’s exactly what scientist Marco Lo Presti from Tufts University’s Silklab has achieved. Using a combination of silk and dopamine, Lo Presti accidentally created a strong, sticky web-like material while working on underwater adhesives. With further experimentation and fine-tuning, this material has the potential to be used in various applications, from underwater tagging to remote object capturing.

Tufts University Scientists Develop Stick Silk Web for Remote Object Capturing

– Researchers at Tufts University have developed a strong, sticky, air-spun silk web that can be used to remotely capture and lift objects.
– The web-making process involves shooting a combination of silk and dopamine through a needle and solidifying it with acetone.
– The team has tested the web’s capabilities by lifting objects from a distance and believes it could have various applications, such as underwater retrieval or capturing objects in remote environments.

As time goes on, we are gradually bringing to life the gadgets we used to dream about as children. Remember Penny Brown’s video watch from Inspector Gadget? Well, we now have something similar. And the Starfleet tricoder from Star Trek? We’re getting closer to that too. But who would have thought that web-shooting and web-slinging would become a reality? It certainly wasn’t something we anticipated, and it wasn’t even part of the plan for scientist Marco Lo Presti from Tufts University’s Silklab.

In 2020, Lo Presti, a research assistant professor in biomedical engineering, was focused on the challenge of underwater adhesives. He decided to experiment with a combination of silk and dopamine, as it mimics the way mussels firmly attach themselves to rock surfaces underwater. Little did he know that this experiment would lead to the creation of a strong, sticky, air-spun web. Lo Presti stumbled upon this discovery while cleaning the glassware used for the silk and dopamine substance with acetone. He noticed that the material transformed into a solid, web-like fiber. Excited by this unexpected development, Lo Presti shared his findings with Fiorenzo Omenetto, the professor of engineering at Tufts and leader of the Silklab.

The Silklab is known for its “bio-inspired” work, drawing inspiration from various organisms like spiders, silkworms, mussels, and more. Thus, exploring the potential of this sticky web material was a natural progression for the team. While the material resembled spider threads, it had a unique property— the ability to be shot and captured from a distance. This was something entirely new in the real world.

Inspired by fictional characters like Spider-Man, the team at Silklab began their journey towards creating a real-life web-slinging material. They started by shooting a combination of silk fibroin and dopamine through a needle into an acetone bath, which solidified the substance into a hydrogel. To shoot the material into the air, they designed a coaxial needle with acetone in the outer layer and the silk-dopamine mixture in the inner layer. As the acetone evaporated, the dopamine accelerated the solidification process, resulting in sticky, strong fibers.

The team conducted several experiments to test the strength and capabilities of the fibers. They successfully captured and lifted objects such as a cocoon, a stainless-steel bolt, and a wood block from a distance of 12 centimeters. By adding additional materials like chitosan and a borate buffer, they further enhanced the strength and adhesiveness of the fibers. The fibers proved effective on various surfaces, including cardboard, wood, plastic, glass, and metal.

While the idea of swinging from buildings like Spider-Man may be exciting, the team clarifies that they are not quite there yet. However, they have speculated on potential uses for the material, such as retrieving lost objects underwater or capturing items in remote environments using drones. The possibilities are vast, and with further research and development, the team believes they can improve the speed, distance, and strength of the fibers.

Marco Lo Presti is open to collaborations and suggestions from those interested in utilizing the web-shooting silk fiber. Already, he has received inquiries about using the material to tag sharks, which has sparked ongoing collaboration with a nonprofit organization. Lo Presti believes that with dedicated work and customization, the material can be tailored for specific applications, revealing its true potential.

In conclusion, the dream of web-shooting and web-slinging has become a reality, thanks to Marco Lo Presti and the Silklab team at Tufts University. While swinging from buildings like Spider-Man may not be possible just yet, the capabilities of this material are promising. Slowly but surely, we are witnessing the transformation of science fiction into reality.