PFI:AIR - TT: Commercial electrospinning prototype for spider silk

这个PFI：空气技术翻译项目专注于将一种能够连续电纺重组蜘蛛丝蛋白(RSSp)的设备转化为纱线，然后对其进行纺纱处理。这些纤维具有坚固的机械性能，将满足医疗器械领域作为缝合线以及防弹衣等应用的防弹线的需求。然而，传统的rSSp湿法纺纱方法还没有产生一种能够规模化到工业水平的纺纱方法，或者产生与本地蜘蛛丝纤维相匹配的纤维机械性能。该项目将产生一种概念验证的连续静电纺丝设备，该设备还具有纺纱后处理纤维的能力，纤维是纺制蜘蛛丝的关键成分，因为该工艺已得到充分证明，以提高纤维的机械性能。该项目在从研究发现转化为商业应用的过程中解决了以下技术差距：1)没有设备可以连续电纺纤维，然后对其进行纺丝处理；2)没有方法纺制rSSP，这种方法可以使纤维的机械性能模仿天然蜘蛛丝，可以扩展到工业水平。具体的知识差距和解决这些差距的方法是：a)通过修改现有的旋转芯棒设备以纺制连续纱线来构建电纺设备。这将通过结合一个旋转的铃声来实现，该铃声将收集电纺的纤维，然后可以连续地将这些纤维从铃声中拉出。B)采用一种将纱线移出设备的装置。将设计一个手臂，将积累的纤维附着在钟形S表面，并将生长的纱线移出屏蔽层。C)将纱线穿过一系列导向器和弹力浴缸进行加工，传统上是手工穿线。D)将rSSP纱线收集在收集卷轴上。在纬纱和牵伸浴结束时，纱线将聚集在一个与电纺速度和纬纱同步的标准卷轴上。生产概念验证装置将允许探索适用于以下条件的条件：i)rSSp纺丝条件，ii)电纺参数，如电压和针距，以及iii)rSSp纱线以及rSSp：聚合物共混物的拉伸浴缸和拉伸参数。参与该项目的人员将包括本科生和研究生，他们不仅将进行研究，还将参与该项目的技术翻译和商业方面，如专利途径、客户发现和许可讨论。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating the ability to produce a device that is capable of continuously electrospinning recombinant spider silk proteins (rSSp) into yarns and then post-spin processing them. These fibers, with robust mechanical properties, will solve needs for use in both the medical device field as sutures as well as a ballistic thread for applications such as body armor. However, traditional wet-spinning methodologies of rSSp have yet to yield a method of spinning that scales to industrial levels or results in fiber mechanical properties that match native spider silk fibers. This project will result in a proof-of-concept continuous electrospinning device that also has the ability to post-spin process the fibers, a critical component of spinning spider silk as the process is well documented to improve fiber mechanical ability. This project addresses the following technology gaps as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application: 1) No device exists to continuously electrospin fibers and then post spin process them and 2) There is no method of spinning rSSp that results in fibers with mechanical properties mimetic to native spider silk that can scale to industrial levels. Specific knowledge gaps and methods of addressing them are: a) constructing the electrospinning device by modifying existing rotating-mandrel equipment to spin continuous yarns. This will be accomplished by incorporating a rotating bell that will collect the electrospun fibers which can then be pulled away from the bell in a continuous fashion. b) Incorporating a means by which to move the yarn outside of the device. An arm will be engineered that will attach to the accumulated fibers from the bell?s surface and move that growing yarn outside the shielding. c) Thread the yarn through a series of godets and stretch baths for processing which is traditionally done by hand threading. d) Collecting the rSSp yarn on a collection spool. At the end of the godet and stretch baths, the yarn will be accumulated on a standard spool that is in-synch with both the electrospinning rate and godets. Producing the proof-of-concept device will allow the exploration of appropriate conditions for: i) rSSp dope conditions, ii) electrospinning parameters such as voltage and needle distance and iii) stretch bath and stretch parameters of the rSSp yarn as well as rSSp:polymer blends. Personnel involved with this project will include undergraduate and graduate students who will not only perform the research but will also be involved in the technology translation and commercial aspects of the project such as patent pathways, customer discovery and licensing discussions.