Towards a new generation of fibre optic chemical sensors based on spider silk threads

Kenny Hey Tow; Desmond M. Chow; Fritz Vollrath; Isabelle Dicaire; Tom Gheysens; Luc Thévenaz

doi:10.1117/12.2264438

23 April 2017 Towards a new generation of fibre optic chemical sensors based on spider silk threads

Kenny Hey Tow, Desmond M. Chow, Fritz Vollrath, Isabelle Dicaire, Tom Gheysens, Luc Thévenaz

Proceedings Volume 10323, 25th International Conference on Optical Fiber Sensors; 103231E (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2264438
Event: 25th International Conference on Optical Fiber Sensors, 2017, Jeju, Korea, Republic of

Abstract

A spider uses up to seven different types of silk, all having specific functions, to build its web. For scientists, native silk - directly extracted from spiders - is a tough, biodegradable and biocompatible thread used mainly for tissue engineering and textile applications. Blessed with outstanding optical properties, this protein strand can also be used as an optical fibre and is, moreover, intrinsically sensitive to chemical compounds. In this communication, a pioneering proof-of-concept experiment using spider silk, in its pristine condition, as a new type of fibre-optic relative humidity sensor will be demonstrated and its potential for future applications discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Kenny Hey Tow, Desmond M. Chow, Fritz Vollrath, Isabelle Dicaire, Tom Gheysens, and Luc Thévenaz "Towards a new generation of fibre optic chemical sensors based on spider silk threads", Proc. SPIE 10323, 25th International Conference on Optical Fiber Sensors, 103231E (23 April 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2264438

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