Spinning Silk Polypeptide Fibres with Polyacrylamide Viscosity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for producing artificial spider silk fibers face challenges in achieving both high protein yield and quality thread assembly, particularly due to the high surface tension of aqueous solutions which prevents stable fiber formation, and require harsh conditions that are not suitable for biological materials.
Innovation Solution
A method for spinning silk polypeptide fibers using a spinning solution comprising low concentrations of silk polypeptides and polyacrylamide (PAA) as an elongational viscosity enhancer, allowing fiber formation under gentle conditions and improving processability by maintaining low shear viscosity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high concentrations of silk polypeptides are used in the spinning solution, then sufficient protein yield is achieved, but the shear viscosity increases and processability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces polyacrylamide (PAA) as an intermediary substance that mediates between the silk polypeptide concentration requirements and the viscosity constraints. PAA acts as a viscosity modifier that allows the system to maintain high protein content while controlling the shear viscosity to acceptable levels, thereby enabling both sufficient protein yield and good processability
2Ease of operation
If aqueous solutions with high surface tension are used, then simple solvent system is maintained, but stable fiber formation becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
Polyacrylamide (PAA) serves as an intermediary that modifies the surface tension characteristics of the aqueous solution. By incorporating PAA into the spinning solution, the system maintains the simplicity of using water as the primary solvent while PAA mediates the surface tension effects to enable stable fiber formation that would otherwise be impossible with pure aqueous solutions
3Productivity
If conventional spinning conditions are applied, then standard manufacturing process is used, but harsh conditions damage biological materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the parameter regime of the spinning process by using polyacrylamide-modified aqueous solutions that enable fiber formation under mild, ambient conditions. This parameter change allows the process to maintain high productivity while eliminating the need for harsh temperatures, pressures, or chemical treatments that would damage the silk polypeptide biological material
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
Enables the successful spinning of fibers from low-concentration silk polypeptide solutions, achieving stable fiber formation at ambient conditions with improved processability and maintaining the desirable properties of spider silk, such as high tensile strength and ductility.
Implementation Method 1
the inclusion of polyacrylamide (PAA), as elongational viscosity enhancer. Although spider silk dopes in nature have been described as containing very high percentages of spider silk protein, the present method surprisingly requires only very low concentrations of silk polypeptides beginning at concentrations as low as 0.15 mg/ml
Implementation Method 2
Spinning of fibres is a process in which deforming stresses in the direction of the fibre axis compete with surface tension of the spinning dope
Implementation Method 3
a method for spinning a fibre from a spinning solution... whereby a fibre is formed
Data Source
Figure 1A~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of spinning a polypeptide polymer containing fibre. It further relates to a polymer fibre obtainable by said method and to uses thereof. The invention also relates to products comprising said polymer fibre.