Animal Free Structured Collagens for Regenerative Medicine

胶原蛋白是一种蛋白质“水泥”材料，存在于人类和动物的结缔组织（如肌肉、骨骼、皮肤）和器官中的细胞之间，并将其结合在一起。作为一种资源，胶原蛋白可以从动物产品（例如，牛皮）中提取，或者在本项目中，可以通过将人类胶原蛋白基因融入酵母中来合成它们。制药工业使用这种方法从细菌中生产用于治疗糖尿病的人胰岛素。生产胶原蛋白作为酵母发酵的产物是有利的，因为它消除了病毒和朊病毒等动物产品固有的风险；提供更纯净的原料，没有潜在的难以去除的污染物；适合素食主义者的分类。该项目的目的是优化一种已经成功证明用于人类I型胶原蛋白生产的工艺方法，并将其应用于两种不同形式的人类胶原蛋白，II型和III型，它们存在于身体的不同组织中。小规模试验表明，酵母细胞可以在固定体积的培养皿中生长和维持，在培养皿中连续喂养酵母细胞，使其能够产生1型胶原蛋白。然后将该产品从主发酵罐中分离出来，进行下游加工和准备销售。ProColl已经成功地在1型胶原蛋白中实现了这一目标，我们现在正在寻求资金来开发生产II型和III型人类胶原蛋白的工艺。按体积计算，这三种胶原蛋白（I、II、III型）占体内所有胶原蛋白类型的99%，因此，从非动物来源制造所有胶原蛋白的能力将对医学研究和医疗器械行业大有裨益，因为这些行业正在寻求更具有生物相容性、更安全、更无伦理的胶原蛋白来源。

Collagen is the protein 'cement' material that occurs between and binds cells in connective tissues (e.g., muscles, bones, skin) and organs in both humans and animals. As a resource, types of collagen can be extracted from animal products (e.g., cow skin) or as in the case of this project it is possible to synthesize them by incorporating the genes for human collagen into yeast. The pharmaceutical industry uses such an approach for the production of human insulin from bacteria for the treatment of diabetes. Producing collagen as a product of yeast fermentation is advantageous as it removes the risks inherent to animal products such as viruses and prions; provides a purer raw material free of potentially difficult to remove contaminants; and is suitable for Vegan classification.The purpose of this project is to optimise a process method that has already been successfully demonstrated for human Type I collagen production and apply this to two different forms of human collagen, Type II and Type III, which are found in different tissues of the body. Small scale trials have shown that yeast cells can be grown and sustained in a fixed volume tank where they are fed continuously such that they are able to produce human collagen in the form of Type 1\. This product is then separated from the main fermenter stock for downstream processing and preparation for sale. ProColl have successfully achieved this for Type 1 collagen, we are now seeking funds to develop processes to produce Type II and Type III human collagens. These three collagens (Type I, II, III) make up 99% of all types of collagens found in the body by volume, and so the ability to manufacture all of them from non-animal sources would be of great benefit for medical research and medical device industries which are seeking more biocompatible, safer, and ethical-free sources of collagen.