Polypeptide Solution for Artificial Hair Fibres
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a demand for a fibre that replaces animal hair, as the supply of natural animal hair is decreasing due to increased population, and existing attempts to reproduce keratin, the main constituent of hair, have not successfully produced fibres similar to artificial hair.
Innovation Solution
A polypeptide solution is developed by dissolving type I keratin-derived polypeptides in solvents with formic acid or aprotic polar agents and inorganic salts, which is used to produce artificial polypeptide fibres with similar stress, toughness, and elongation properties to natural hair through a method involving expression vectors and host transformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If natural animal hair supply is increased to meet growing demand, then the supply-demand balance improves, but animal protection concerns worsen and supply remains insufficient due to population growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates artificial polypeptide fibres that copy the structure and properties of natural keratin fibres. By synthesizing polypeptides with amino acid sequences similar to type I keratin (particularly K26) and processing them into fibres with comparable mechanical properties (stress, toughness, elongation), the invention provides a synthetic alternative that replicates natural hair functionality without requiring animal sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by controlling the dissolution of polypeptides in specific solvents (formic acid or aprotic polar agents with dipole moments ≥3.0 D combined with inorganic salts), adjusting molecular weight, and optimizing fibre processing parameters to achieve mechanical properties matching natural hair. This allows transformation of synthetic polypeptides into fibres with desired strength, elasticity, and other keratin-like characteristics.
2Ease of manufacture
If keratin is dissolved and reproduced as fibres to replace animal hair, then fibre production becomes possible, but the complex structure of natural hair prevents production of fibres similar to artificial hair
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential functional components of natural keratin by identifying and synthesizing polypeptides with amino acid sequences derived from type I keratin (particularly K26, K25, K27). By isolating and replicating the critical amino acid sequence patterns rather than attempting to reproduce the entire complex natural keratin structure, the invention achieves fibre production with sufficient similarity to natural hair for practical applications.
3Reliability
If type I keratin is used for artificial fibre production, then fibres with properties similar to natural hair can be produced, but the complexity of keratin structure makes artificial production difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex keratin structure by focusing on specific type I keratin variants (K26, K25, K27) and their characteristic amino acid sequences. By dividing the problem into manageable segments—identifying core sequence patterns, synthesizing simplified polypeptide versions, and processing these into fibres—the invention reduces production complexity while maintaining reliable fibre properties similar to natural hair.
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
The solution enables the production of artificial polypeptide fibres with properties comparable to natural hair, addressing the need for a fibre replacement and providing a method for their production.
Implementation Method 1
A polypeptide solution in which polypeptide including an amino acid sequence derived from type I keratin that belongs to Cluster Ia is dissolved in a solvent including a formic acid or a solvent including an aprotic polar agent having a dipole moment of 3.0 D or more and an inorganic salt
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a polypeptide solution in which a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence derived from type I keratin that belongs to Cluster Ia is dissolved in a solvent including a formic acid or a solvent including an aprotic polar agent having a dipole moment of 3.0 D or more and an inorganic salt.