02433nas a2200277   4500008004100000022001400041245011600055210006900171260000900240300001200249490000800261520151600269653001501785653001501800653002801815653002701843653001501870653002001885100001801905700002101923700001701944700001701961700002201978700002402000856013102024       2020                        eng d  a0141-813000aStructural and physical analysis of underwater silk from housing nest composites of a tropical chironomid midge0 aStructural and physical analysis of underwater silk from housing  cNOV   a934-9420 v1633 a<p>Chironomids are an abundant group of aquatic silk spinning insects. They offer a unique opportunity of silk harvestation without killing them; however, they remained underappreciated models in silk research. Here, we investigate the structural and biomechanical characteristics of silk from the midge, Chironomus ramosus. A combination of microscopic (SEM), spectroscopic (CD and IR), structural (XRD), thermal (DSC and TGA) and mechanical measurement tools and techniques were employed to gain critical insights on midge silk. Maximum yield of silk was obtained from Chironomus in similar to 2.5 h, the shortest time reported among insects. The network of water-insoluble silk fibres possessed the smallest diameter of 110 +/- 35 nm, known for any insect silk, qualifying its superiority in fibre fineness. We demonstrate a cruelty-free silk extraction method in contrast to the conventional violent techniques. Structural characterization indicated coexistence of various secondary conformations, beta sheets being predominant. We compare and contrast these features to well-characterized caddisfly and silk-worm silks and highlight the uniqueness in midge silk that render mechanical stability and potentially contribute to its multi-functionalization. We thus propose Chironomus as an emerging candidate of water-borne silk, especially in the context of the `Peace silk' industry, aiming to develop non-violent methods for silk harvestation from animals. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</p>
10abiopolymer10aChironomus10aCommercial applications10aHousing nest composite10aPeace silk10aUnderwater silk1 aThorat, Leena1 aJoseph, Emmanuel1 aNisal, Anuya1 aShukla, Ekta1 aRaviKumar, Ameeta1 aNath, Bimalendu, B.  uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/structural-and-physical-analysis-underwater-silk-housing-nest-composites-tropical-chironomid