... biomaterial. Understanding the synergistic role of chemistry and design in spider adhesives, particularly the ability to stick in wet conditions, provides insight in designing synthetic adhesives for biomedical applications. * Author for correspondence ( bopell@vt.edu ) Competing interests...

... difference of even 5 s often means the difference between a prey captured or a prey lost ( Blackledge and Zevenbergen, 2006 ; Eberhard, 1989 ). Adhesion Araneus marmoreus Biomaterial Extended phenotypic plasticity Orb web Viscous capture thread Highlighted Article: Changes in orb...

... declare no competing financial interests. 1 10 2013 13 1 2014 © 2014. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd 2014 Argiope aurantia Biomaterial Glycoprotein Hygroscopic Viscoelastic All animals produce glycoproteins, but few incorporate them as adhesive in traps...

... by The Company of Biologists Ltd 2013 Araneoidea Argiope aurantia biomaterial glycoprotein hygroscopic Neoscona crucifera Many biological materials respond in adaptive ways to environmental humidity. For example, keratin in gecko toe pads softens as humidity rises to increase toe adhesion...

.... * Author for correspondence ( bopell@vt.edu ) 28 5 2011 © 2011. 2011 Araneoidea biomaterial glycoprotein hygroscopic Larinioides cornutus Biological materials function in environments where seasonal and even daily changes in conditions have the potential to alter...

.... ( 1995 ). Suitability of spider silks for biomedical applications . MS Thesis, University of Wyoming. Vollrath, F. and Knight, D. P. ( 2001 ). Liquid crystalline spinning of spider silk. Nature 410 , 541 -548. Vollrath, F. and Porter, D. ( 2006 ). Spider silk as a model biomaterial. Appl...