Scientists working at Tufts University in the USA have created a web similar to the one shot by the legendary comic book hero Spider-Man. In 2020, Marco Lo Presti, a research assistant in the field of biomedical engineering, was studying underwater adhesives. Inspired by mussels sticking tightly to rocks underwater, Lo Presti discovered that a combination of silk and dopamine had a similar effect. By chance, he noticed that after cleaning his mixture from tubes with acetone, the silk and dopamine, upon contact with acetone, transformed into a solid format resembling a web-like, fibrous material. Showing this to Professor Fiorenzo Omenetto, Lo Presti mentioned they always thought a material mimicking superpowers would be great.

The evolution of web shooting began with Lo Presti and his colleagues spraying a fine silk fibroin and dopamine combination through a needle. Initially, this was directly plunged into an acetone bath, causing the substance to solidify into a hydrogel. The team later decided to add acetone to the outer layer of a coaxial needle surrounding the silk and dopamine in the inner needle layer, allowing the liquid to directly shoot into the air. As acetone vaporized in the air, dopamine accelerated the solidification process of the substance, pulling water from silk to create sticky, strong, twisted fibers. Chitosan and borate buffer were then added to increase the tensile strength of the fibers and enhance their adhesive properties to biopolymer objects.

Lo Presti reported being able to catch objects at a distance of 30-35 centimeters and lift objects weighing 15-20 grams. Through experiments, objects such as a test tube floating on water and a partially buried stainless steel scalpel could be retrieved remotely using silk fibers. Professor Omenetto expressed interest in whether the material could enable buildings to sway, stating they are not there yet but could be used in retrieving lost objects underwater or in creating drones capable of catching objects remotely. Noting the strength and ability of natural silk to lift heavy weights, Omenetto hoped their invention could reach that level as well.