SBIR Phase I: Electro-Hydrodynamic Production of Molecularly Designed Silk-Like Fibers

这项小型企业创新研究的第一阶段研究开发了基于蜘蛛拖丝的高强度和柔韧性纤维，用于危险职业的个人防护设备和用于水净化的高强度膜。该项目解决了阻碍利用天然纤维的机械性能制造生物合成丝的问题。该项目将通过基因表达进行蛋白质分子设计，并结合新型电流体动力学方法，将丝蛋白聚合成丝状纤维。该研究的广泛影响是为国家安全和环境重要市场提供上级个人防护装备、改良织物和过滤系统。结合高强度和灵活性将恢复全范围的运动穿防护服的个人，如警察，军人和其他危险职业。过滤用于水净化、饮料工业和制药工业。新的，易于扩展的过程将使各种通用工具的设计和创造新的分子材料。该项目的成功推进了对丝蛋白结构科学的理解，并提供了使用这些蛋白质开发具有良好控制特性的纳米材料的技术。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research develops high strength and flexibile fibers based on spider dragline silk for personal protective equipment for use in hazardous occupations and high strength membranes for water purification. The project resolves problems that have impeded making biosynthetic silk with the mechanical properties of the natural fiber. The project introduces new technology for aggregation of silk proteins into silk-like fibers that combines a molecular design of proteins through gene expression and a novel electro-hydrodynamic process for controlled generation and spinning of fibers.The broader impacts of this research are to provide superior personal protective equipment, improved fabrics, and filtration systems in markets important to the nation's security and the environment. Combining high strength and flexibility will restore full range of motion to individuals wearing protective clothing, such as police, military and others in hazardous occupations. Filtration is used in water purification, the beverage industry and the drug industry. The new, easily scalable process will enable an assortment of generic tools for design and creation of new molecular materials. Success in the project advances understanding of the science of silk protein structure and provides technology for using these proteins to develop nanomaterials with well controlled properties.