252results about "Monocomponent fibroin artificial filament" patented technology

A silk nanofiber composite network produced by forming a solution of silk fiber and hexafluroisopropanol, wherein the step of forming is devoid of any acid treatment, where the silk solution has a concentration of about 0.2 to about 1.5 weight percent silk in hexafluroisopropanol, and where the silk is selected from Bombyx mori silk and Nephila clavipes silk; and electrospinning the solution, thereby forming a non-woven network of nanofibers having a diameter in the range from about 2 to about 2000 nanometers.

A method of manufacturing a biopolymer optical waveguide includes providing a biopolymer, unwinding the biopolymer progressively to extract individual biopolymer fibers, and putting the unwound fibers under tension. The tensioned fibers are then cast in a different polymer to form a biopolymer optical waveguide that guides light due to the difference in indices of refraction between the biopolymer and the different polymer. The optical fibers may be used in biomedical applications and can be inserted in the body as transmissive media. Printing techniques may be used to manufacture the biopolymer optical waveguides.

The present invention provides an all-aqueous process and composition for production of silk biomaterials, e.g., fibers, films, foams and mats. In the process, at least one biocompatible polymer, such as poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (a well-documented biocompatible material), was blended with the silk protein prior to processing e.g., electrospinning. We discovered that this step avoids problems associated with conformational transitions of fibroin during solubilization and reprocessing from aqueous solution which lead to embrittled materials. Moreover, the process avoids the use of organic solvents that can pose problems when the processed biomaterials are exposed to cells in vitro or in vivo.

The present invention provides for concentrated aqueous silk fibroin solutions and an all-aqueous mode for preparation of concentrated aqueous fibroin solutions that avoids the use of organic solvents, direct additives, or harsh chemicals. The invention further provides for the use of these solutions in production of materials, e.g., fibers, films, foams, meshes, scaffolds and hydrogels.

The present invention provides processes for producing porous silk fibroin scaffold material. The porous silk fibroin scaffold can be used for tissue engineering. The porosity of the silk fibroin scaffolds described herein can be adjusted as to mimic the gradient of densities found in natural tissue. Accordingly, methods for engineering of 3-dimensional tissue, e.g. bone and cartilage, using the silk fibroin scaffold material are also provided.

The invention features methods and apparatuses for spinning silk protein fibers (biofilaments) from recombinant biofilament proteins. The methods are particularly useful for spinning fibers of spider silk or silkworm silk proteins from recombinant mammalian cells and may be used to spin such fibers for use in the manufacture of industrial and commercial products.

The invention features methods and apparatuses for spinning silk protein fibers (biofilaments) from recombinant biofilament proteins. The methods are particularly useful for spinning fibers of spider silk or silkworm silk proteins from recombinant mammalian cells and may be used to spin such fibers for use in the manufacture of industrial and commercial products.

A method of manufacturing a biopolymer optical device includes providing a polymer, providing a substrate, casting the polymer on the substrate, and enzymatically polymerizing an organic compound to generate a conducting polymer between the provided polymer and the substrate. The polymer may be a biopolymer such as silk and may be modified using organic compounds such as tyrosines to provide a molecular-level interface between the provided bulk biopolymer of the biopolymer optical device and a substrate or other conducting layer via a tyrosine-enzyme polymerization. The enzymatically polymerizing may include catalyzing the organic compound with peroxidase enzyme reactions. The result is a carbon-carbon conjugated backbone that provides polymeric “wires” for use in polymer and biopolymer optical devices. An all organic biopolymer electroactive material is thereby provided that provides optical functions and features.

A system and method for making a biomaterial device includes a support structure providing a shape for a biomaterial device. At least one applicator has a supply of biomaterial solution and is positioned along the support structure. The at least one applicator forms a biomaterial fiber by applying shear force to the biomaterial solution and delivering the biomaterial fiber to the support structure. A controller causes relative movement between the support structure and the at least one applicator, and the biomaterial fiber is arranged on the support structure according to the relative movement to form the biomaterial device. The biomaterial may be silk fibroin which may be wound onto a reciprocating and rotating mandrel. Control over the properties of the biomaterial device is achieved through appropriate selection of material processing, winding strategy, and post-winding processing.

The application relates to a method of obtaining silk feedstock solution from a gland of a silkworm or another silk-producing arthropod in which the body of the silkworm or the other silk-producing arthropod is cut open and the gland removed. The silk feedstock solution is subsequently extracted from the gland and used for extrusion, spinning or moulding of objects.

The invention discloses an artificial nerve graft prepared by electrostatic spinning and a preparation method and a special device thereof, and a product is a catheter-shaped nerve graft which is prepared from polymers by an electrostatic spinning method and consists of nano-fibers. The used materials of the product are all degradable materials and have good biocompatibility with human bodies. Theprepared product does not contain heterotoxin or side-effect substances introduced by a preparation process. A three dimensional structure with plentiful micropores is arranged on a conduit wall, provides a necessary approach for transporting nutritive substances needed in the growth process of nerve cells, has good use effect and provides a necessary induction function and a necessary growing space for the growth of the nerve cells.

The invention relates a biodegradable and absorbable natural polymer-based nano-fibrous membrane prepared by a freeze-drying method, and the application thereof. The natural polymer-based nano-fibrous membrane is prepared through the following steps of: dissolving natural polymer powder into a corresponding solvent so as to prepare an extremely-dilute solution with the concentration of 0.001-0.1wt %; after the natural polymer powder is completely dissolved in the solvent, transferring the obtained natural polymer solution into a liquid nitrogen refrigerating device, so that the natural polymer solution is rapidly frozen in a liquid nitrogen environment; then, carrying out freeze-drying treatment on the obtained product in a freeze drier for 12-48 hours to obtain natural polymer-based nano fibers; and carrying out cross-linking on the obtained natural polymer-based nano fibers by a corresponding cross-linking agent to obtain a natural polymer-based nano-fibrous membrane, and then carrying out MTT (methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium) cytotoxicity test and cell vaccination experiments on the natural polymer-based nano-fibrous membrane, with the obtained results showing that the obtained fibrous membrane has no toxicity but has excellent cell adhesion and proliferation properties. The natural polymer-based nano-fibrous membrane disclosed by the invention is simple in the operation process, easy to control and low in cost; and by using the nano-fibrous membrane disclosed by the invention, ultra-fine natural polymer-based nano fibers can be prepared continuously on a large scale.

The present invention relates to the preparation process of natural nanometer fiber for tissue engineering, air filtering, clothing material and composite reinforced aeronautical and astronautical material, and is especially the preparation process of natural nanometer spider silk fiber and cocoon silk fiber. Through soaking in certain solution and ultrasonic dissociation, natural nanometer fiber of diameter 30-100 nm may be prepared. The prepared natural nanometer fiber may find its wide application in tissue engineering, air filtering, clothing material and composite reinforced aeronautical and astronautical material. The present invention has simple operation, simple equipment, low power consumption and low cost, and is suitable for both lab preparation and industrial production.

The invention relates to a preparation method for regenerated fibroin fiber, which comprises the following steps: taking regenerated fibroin water solution containing calcium ions as spinning liquid, extruding the spinning liquid out from a spinning nozzle in the temperature range of 5-35 DEG C, then curing the spinning liquid into silk in air directly, taking alcohol-water mixed solution as a finishing agent for post-processing, then taking the silk for drying, and finally obtaining the regenerated fibroin fiber. In the invention, the raw material source is wide, the cost of the raw material is low, and in the whole process, the defects that the traditional wet spinning solvent and the coagulating bath are strong in corrosion, and are toxic; in addition, compared with the other regenerated fibroin fiber dry spinning fiber, the condition of the spinning liquid is optimized, the PH regulation and other complex steps are omitted, and the use of a series of solvent is avoided. Therefore in the method, the cost is saved, and simultaneously the environment is protected. The regenerated fibroin fiber has the advantages of being non-toxic, harmless on human body and the like, is good in biocompatibility, suitable for biological and medical materials, and has good application prospect.

The present invention relates to a thread preparation process from silk proteins including an apparatus which is appropriate for performing the method. Furthermore, the invention is directed to the threads obtained therewith as well as the use thereof. The invention uses a diffusion unit leading to the production of high-quality silk threads with high yield.