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导致生产用于合成肌腱和韧带的材料。这种材料是蜘蛛丝蛋白，其强度可达芳纶或钢材的数量级，但具有尼龙的弹性。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)纤维比自然组织更坚固，但仍然具有弹性，以及c)纤维不能被生物系统降解，也不会在患者体内受到侵蚀。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主要的壶腹蜘蛛丝2蛋白质。WyoBiGen将构建和表达第二个合成基因，主要壶腹蜘蛛丝1。开发一种新的合成基因构建策略，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。我们将同时追求目标，并将在我们的实验室以及从WyoBiGen请求这些材料的公司的实验室中寻求从这些材料中生产纤维。由于蜘蛛丝蛋白的强度、弹性、非免疫原性和韧性的独特混合，第一批应用将是人工韧带和肌腱。用于组织加固或药物输送的轻质多孔膜也是可能的。这种独特材料的其他应用包括安全气囊、安全带、攀爬装置、复合材料增强材料和纺织品。其中包括18家大公司，他们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激励竞争研究的实验计划(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).