Structural proteins for the development of sustainable materials: BRAIN Biotech and AMSilk cooperate to develop high-performance bio-based protein fibers

Creating a better future with biotechnology − this vision is shared by BRAIN Biotech AG (BRAIN Biotech), a leader in the development and manufacture of bio-based solutions and products for industry, and AMSilk GmbH (AMSilk), the world's first industrial supplier of innovative biomaterials for more sustainable applications in the textile, medical and consumer goods industries. As part of a strategic collaboration, BRAIN Biotech and AMSilk are combining their expertise to drive the development of high-performance fibers for the performance materials market.

Bio-fabricated products hold enormous potential as sustainable material solutions for the future. New developments, such as those currently being developed by BRAIN Biotech and AMSilk, could revolutionize the performance materials market. Petroleum-based textile fibers made of polyethylene or polyamide, well known to be a main source of microplastics as well as causing the unsustainable disposal of old clothes in landfills.

AMSilk produces biotechnological materials based on renewable carbon structural proteins that are not only fully recyclable, but also 100% biodegradable and contain no microplastics. Due to their exceptional mechanical as well as biochemical properties, these biomaterials are extremely versatile and therefore particularly attractive for use in a wide variety of applications including the apparel, medical and automotive industries, among others.

To expand its protein technology platform to further markets and applications, the Company is now drawing on the expertise of BRAIN Biotech. The aim here is to further optimize specific properties of the structural proteins for various high-performance-oriented fields of application in the textile sector.

Dr. Alexander Pelzer, Head of Research & Development at BRAIN Biotech's Zwingenberg site, emphasizes: "In this collaboration, our protein engineering experts are once again demonstrating their capabilities in protein development, especially in particularly challenging tasks that require novel approaches. Our protein optimization technologies, based on rational sequence- and structure-driven design, have already proven themselves in many optimization processes. Our enzyme technology unit will further develop these structural proteins in close collaboration with AMSilk to achieve the desired properties for higher-performance fibers."

Dr. Andreas Schmideder, Head of Business Opportunities & Development at AMSilk, said: "AMSilk's bio-fabricated fibers have immense potential, as the underlying structural proteins can be modified at the molecular level. This makes it possible to tailor products to meet specific market requirements. We believe we have found the optimal technology partner for the expansion of our protein platform in BRAIN Biotech. In addition to BRAIN's excellent expertise in protein development, the shared purpose of AMSilk and BRAIN − to create a sustainable future through bio-based solutions − in particular enables an inspiring and successful collaboration."