SBIR Phase I: Construction and Expression of Synthetic Spider Silk Genes

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目将生产用于合成肌腱和韧带的材料。这种材料是蜘蛛丝蛋白，具有凯夫拉或钢的强度，但又具有尼龙的弹性。使用合成纤维将是有利的，因为：a)蜘蛛丝是非免疫原性的，因此植入物不需要从同一患者的其他组织中取出；b)纤维比天然组织更强，但仍有弹性；c)纤维不能被生物系统降解，不会在患者体内腐蚀。WyoBiGen将从基因工程基因中生产大量蜘蛛拖丝蛋白。第一个产生的蛋白质将是壶腹蛛丝蛋白。WyoBiGen将构建和表达第二个合成基因，主要壶腹蛛丝1。一种新的合成基因构建策略的发展，允许通过连接天然丝基因的结构域来混合各种特性，如强度、弹性和韧性。我们将同时追求这些目标，并在我们的实验室以及向WyoBiGen要求这些材料的公司的实验室中追求从这些材料中生成纤维。由于蜘蛛丝蛋白具有独特的强度、弹性、非免疫原性和韧性，第一个应用将是人工韧带和肌腱。用于组织加固或药物输送的轻多孔膜也是可能的。这种独特材料的其他应用是安全气囊，安全带，攀岩装备，复合材料增强和纺织品。其中包括18家大公司的名单，这些公司已经要求这些蛋白质或纤维开发自己的应用。该奖项由小企业创新研究计划和刺激竞争研究实验计划（EPSCoR）支持。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will lead to production of materials for use as synthetic tendons and ligaments. The materials are spider silk proteins which exhibit strengths of the order of Kevlar or steel yet have the elasticity of nylon. Use of synthetic fibers will be advantageous because: a) spider silk is nonimmunogenic so implants will not need to be taken from other tissues of the same patient, b) the fibers are stronger than natural tissues but still elastic, and c) the fibers are not degradable by biological systems and will not erode in the patient. WyoBiGen will produce significant quantities of spider dragline silk proteins from genetically engineered genes. The first protein produced will be major ampullate spider silk 2 protein. WyoBiGen will construct and express a second synthetic gene, major ampullate spider silk 1. Development of a new strategy for synthetic gene construction allows blending of various properties, such as strength, elasticity, and toughness, by joining structural domains of the native silk genes. Objectives will be pursued simultaneously and generation of fibers from these materials will be pursued in our laboratories, as well as those of companies who have requested these materials from WyoBiGen. The first applications will be artificial ligaments and tendons due to the unique blend of strength, elasticity, nonimmunogenic nature, and toughness of the spider silk proteins. Light porous films for tissue reinforcement or drug delivery are also possible. Other applications of this unique material are airbags, seatbelts, climbing gear, composite material reinforcements, and textiles. A list of eighteen major companies who have already requested these proteins or the fibers to develop their own applications is included. This award is supported by the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).