Bio-Sensing Textiles - Biopolymeric Protein Materials Development

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Wearable technologies are key part of the internet of things (IOT) which is rapidly growing due to its**applications in various fields including healthcare, sportwear, and electronics. The materials and components**that are employed in the wearable systems require to be environmentally and mechanically stable and flexible**as well as compatible with textile industrial processes. Myant Technologies Inc. is seeking solutions for**fabrication of pH/ glucose / lactate humidity sensors that are environmentally friendly, stable, and printable by**technologies such as screen/ inkjet/ 3D printing. Protein biopolymers can be used to assemble functionalized,**biocompatible, and biodegradable materials which have a variety of applications in surface engineering,**coatings, and wearable technologies. Curli nanofibers secreted from non-pathogenic E. coli bacteria are**functional protein biopolymers that can be self-assembled and form a high surface area network with nanoscale**pores. They are extremely versatile, scalable, and tolerant to genetic engineering hence, if transformed into**films, gels, or coatings, they will maintain their functionalities. In this project, large scale printing of**genetically engineered protein biopolymers is proposed for the first time. The self-assembling proteins will be**secreted from bacteria cells and be engineered by fusion of binding protein/enzyme domains to achieve**desirable sensing properties. After purification processes, they can be applied in the form of a film or coating**on textiles with functional properties such as sensing or conductivity. The viscosity of the produced**biopolymers will be studied and modified to produce a printable material. As the materials and devices are**developed in the lab, the large-scale production of the developed structures will be investigated employing**machines and tools available at Myant Technologies Inc.