Fiber reinforced tissue composites
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Solution Overview
Problem
The leather industry faces environmental concerns due to the use of animal skins, and existing synthetic leathers lack the quality and durability of natural leather, with no scientifically sound and industrially feasible processes available to produce leather without animal slaughter.
Innovation Solution
Engineered leather materials are created by culturing cells on fibrous scaffolds, such as silk, and cross-linking them to form a collagen network, mimicking the structure and properties of natural leather through a process analogous to tanning, resulting in a fiber-reinforced biological tissue composite.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If animal skins are used to produce natural leather, then durability and quality are improved, but environmental harm and animal welfare issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates engineered leather by culturing animal cells (such as fibroblasts) on fibrous scaffolds to produce collagen matrices that replicate the structural and functional properties of natural leather. This copying approach captures the durability and quality characteristics of animal skin while eliminating the need to slaughter animals, as the cells are harvested from living animals through biopsy or other non-lethal methods
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite material structures combining fibrous scaffolds (such as silk, collagen, or synthetic fibers) with cultured cellular matrices to create engineered leather. This composite approach allows the material to achieve natural leather-like durability and quality while using sustainable, non-animal-derived components for the scaffold structure
2Object-affected harmful factors
If synthetic leather is used to address environmental concerns, then environmental harm is reduced, but quality and durability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replicates the complex hierarchical structure of natural leather at the micro and nanoscale through controlled cell culture processes. The cultured cells produce collagen and extracellular matrix components that self-assemble into fiber networks mimicking natural skin architecture, thereby achieving comparable quality and durability to natural leather while maintaining environmental sustainability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes multiple parameters including cell density, scaffold architecture, culture medium composition, and cross-linking conditions to enhance the mechanical properties of engineered leather. By controlling parameters such as collagen concentration, fiber orientation, and cross-linking density, the material achieves natural leather-like strength and durability
3Strength
If complex tanning processes are used to produce natural leather, then durability is improved, but process complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the natural self-assembly capabilities of cultured cells to form organized collagen matrices without requiring complex chemical tanning processes. The cells autonomously produce and organize extracellular matrix components into structurally sound networks, eliminating or simplifying the need for multiple preparatory stages, tanning chemicals, and crusting operations traditionally required for natural leather
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method produces high-performance engineered leathers with superior durability and strength, replicating natural leather properties while being more environmentally friendly and simpler to process than previous attempts.
Implementation Method 1
culturing cells on fibrous scaffolds, such as silk, and cross-linking them to form a collagen network
Implementation Method 2
culturing cells on fibrous scaffolds... to form a collagen network
Implementation Method 3
cross-linking them to form a collagen network... cross-linked to the tissue and/or proteins
Data Source
AI summary
Engineered, reinforced leather materials (engineered leathers) including a composite of a fibrous matrix that has been tanned to allow crosslinking of the fibrous matrix to the collagen formed by cultured cells (e.g., fibroblasts). These engineered leathers may be referred to as fiber-reinforced biological tissue composites. Also described herein are methods of making such fiber-reinforced biological tissue composites.