This tiny molecular trick makes spider silk almost unbreakable
Researchers at King's College London identified Arg–Tyr cation–π interactions that drive phase separation and β-sheet assembly in spider dragline silk, explaining its exceptional strength and toughness. Published in PNAS, the work reveals molecular 'glue' mechanisms that can inform synthetic high-performance fibers and biomedical scaffold design.
Why it mattersKing's College London's Arg–Tyr cation–π insight lets biomaterials teams design tougher, lighter scaffolds for implants.