AMSilk

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AMSilk is an industrial supplier of synthetic silk biopolymers. [1] The polymers are biocompatible and breathable. [2] The company was founded in 2008 and has its headquarters at Campus Neuried in Munich. [3] AMSilk is an industrial biotechnology company with a proprietary production process for their silk materials. [4]

Contents

AMSilk produces a lightweight material trademarked as Biosteel, [5] created from recombinant spider silk, which was used by Adidas to create a biodegradable running shoe. [6] Jens Klein, former CEO of AMSilk, said during an interview that the biodegradable material can help reduce the amount of waste that has to be burned or pollutes the environment. [7]

AMSilk is also developing breast implants made of biodegradable spider silk in collaboration with the German company Polytech. [8]

History

AMSilk was founded in 2008 by Lin Römer and Professor Thomas Scheibel in Planegg, Germany, with the aim of becoming the world's first industrial supplier [9] of synthetic silk biopolymers. [10]

In 2011, the company partnered with the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) to develop a new spin process for the AMSilk spider silk proteins. [11]

In 2015, AMSilk began producing Biosteel® Fibre made from 100% silk proteins based on natural spider silk. [12] Then, in November 2016, the company used its Biosteel® Fibre to collaborate with Adidas [13] to create the ‘Futurecraft Biofabric’ shoe prototype. [14] The Biosteel® Yarn fibre-based shoe is 100% biodegradable and is designed to replicate spider silk. [15]

In April 2017, AMSilk announced its partnership with Gruschwitz Textilwerke. [16]

In 2019, Swiss cosmetics manufacturer Givaudan acquired the cosmetics arm of AMSilk to expand the use of spider silk technology in cosmetic products. [17]

In May 2021, the company secured a EUR 29 Million Series C fundraising. [9] In April 2023 AMSilk raised an additional €25 million to accelerate industrial scale-up and expand commercial operations. [18]

In February 2023, Evonik Industries signed a contract with AMSilk to supply industrial quantities of protein products made from the fermentation of renewable raw materials. [19]

In 2023, AMSilk partnered with Brain Biotech, a company that develops and manufactures bio-based products for industry, to develop bio-based protein fibres for the textile industry. [20]

Founding and Development

AMSilk has developed a range of vegan silk biopolymers designed for application in various medical devices, focusing on enhancing the bio-compatibility of medical implants. [21]

In 2017, AMSilk was named one of the 50 most innovative companies in the world by the German edition of MIT Technology Review. [22]

In 2018, AMSilk signed a deal with Airbus to develop a spider silk-based material for lightweight, high-performance planes. [23] The collaboration aimed to launch the first prototype composite material in 2019. [24]

Within the same year, the company partnered with Polytech Health & Aesthetics, the leading manufacturer of silicone implants, to begin a clinical trial of silk-coated implants on a handful of patients in Austria. [25]

Headquarters

AMSilk is currently located at Campus Neuried in Munich, Germany, after relocating in October 2022. [3]

Products and services

AMSilk partnered with Swiss watchmaker Omega SA in 2019 to make the Nato watch strap, which blends polyamide and Biosteel. [26]

In January 2022, Mercedes-Benz partnered with AMSilk to develop sustainable door pulls using Biosteel fibre on its VISION EQXX [27] concept electric car. [28]

Since announcing its partnership with Airbus in 2018, [24] AMSilk has worked on developing silk-reinforced polymers as a substitute for Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs). [29]

Environmental impact

AMSilk has worked with fashion brands to create sustainable alternatives using Biosteel® Fiber, a biosynthetic silk made by adding silk genes into bacteria through biofermentation. This material has been used in collaboration with Omega and Adidas for a watch strap and the "Futurecraft" shoe. [30] AMSilk's Biosteel® Fiber, used in these collaborations is notable for its biodegradability, breaking down in seawater and on land within a few months. [31]

Utilizing a bio-fabrication process that reprograms microorganisms based on spider DNA, the company produces this silk-like material at scale using bacteria and natural fermentation. [30]

In November 2022, AMSilk participated as one of 100 renowned companies in the VISION 2045 Summit held alongside the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27). [32]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biopolymer</span> Polymer produced by a living organism

Biopolymers are natural polymers produced by the cells of living organisms. Like other polymers, biopolymers consist of monomeric units that are covalently bonded in chains to form larger molecules. There are three main classes of biopolymers, classified according to the monomers used and the structure of the biopolymer formed: polynucleotides, polypeptides, and polysaccharides. The Polynucleotides, RNA and DNA, are long polymers of nucleotides. Polypeptides include proteins and shorter polymers of amino acids; some major examples include collagen, actin, and fibrin. Polysaccharides are linear or branched chains of sugar carbohydrates; examples include starch, cellulose, and alginate. Other examples of biopolymers include natural rubbers, suberin and lignin, cutin and cutan, melanin, and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textile</span> Various fiber-based materials

Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types, etc. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is not the only manufacturing method, and many other methods were later developed to form textile structures based on their intended use. Knitting and non-woven are other popular types of fabric manufacturing. In the contemporary world, textiles satisfy the material needs for versatile applications, from simple daily clothing to bulletproof jackets, spacesuits, and doctor's gowns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spider silk</span> Protein fiber made by spiders

Spider silk is a protein fibre or silk spun by spiders. Spiders use silk to make webs or other structures that function as adhesive traps to catch prey, to entangle and restrain prey before biting, to transmit tactile information, or as nests or cocoons to protect their offspring. They can use the silk to suspend themselves from height, to float through the air, or to glide away from predators. Most spiders vary the thickness and adhesiveness of their silk according to its use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiber</span> Natural or synthetic substance made of long, thin filaments

Fiber or fibre is a natural or artificial substance that is significantly longer than it is wide. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The strongest engineering materials often incorporate fibers, for example carbon fiber and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rayon</span> Cellulose-based semi-synthetic fiber

Rayon, also called viscose and commercialised in some countries as sabra silk or cactus silk, is a semi-synthetic fiber, made from natural sources of regenerated cellulose, such as wood and related agricultural products. It has the same molecular structure as cellulose. Many types and grades of viscose fibers and films exist. Some imitate the feel and texture of natural fibers such as silk, wool, cotton, and linen. The types that resemble silk are often called artificial silk. It can be woven or knit to make textiles for clothing and other purposes.

Synthetic fibers or synthetic fibres are fibers made by humans through chemical synthesis, as opposed to natural fibers that are directly derived from living organisms, such as plants or fur from animals. They are the result of extensive research by scientists to replicate naturally occurring animal and plant fibers. In general, synthetic fibers are created by extruding fiber-forming materials through spinnerets, forming a fiber. These are called synthetic or artificial fibers. The word polymer comes from a Greek prefix "poly" which means "many" and suffix "mer" which means "single units"..

Ingeo is a range of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers owned by NatureWorks.

Twaron is a para-aramid, high-performance yarn. It is a heat-resistant fibre, helps in ballistic protection and cut protection. Twaron was developed in the early 1970s by the Dutch company Akzo Nobel's division Enka BV, later Akzo Industrial Fibers. The research name of the para-aramid fibre was originally Fiber X, but it was soon called Arenka. Although the Dutch para-aramid fiber was developed only a little later than DuPont's Kevlar, the introduction of Twaron as a commercial product came much later than Kevlar due to financial problems at the Akzo company in the 1970s. As of 2000, Twaron had become a global material and had been integrated into the global markets. Twaron has been around for over 30 years.

Polymer chemistry is a sub-discipline of chemistry that focuses on the structures of chemicals, chemical synthesis, and chemical and physical properties of polymers and macromolecules. The principles and methods used within polymer chemistry are also applicable through a wide range of other chemistry sub-disciplines like organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry. Many materials have polymeric structures, from fully inorganic metals and ceramics to DNA and other biological molecules. However, polymer chemistry is typically related to synthetic and organic compositions. Synthetic polymers are ubiquitous in commercial materials and products in everyday use, such as plastics, and rubbers, and are major components of composite materials. Polymer chemistry can also be included in the broader fields of polymer science or even nanotechnology, both of which can be described as encompassing polymer physics and polymer engineering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textile industry</span> Industry related to design, production and distribution of textiles.

The textile industry is primarily concerned with the design, production and distribution of textiles: yarn, cloth and clothing. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natural fiber</span> Fibers obtained from natural sources such as plants, animals or minerals without synthesis

Natural fibers or natural fibres are fibers that are produced by geological processes, or from the bodies of plants or animals. They can be used as a component of composite materials, where the orientation of fibers impacts the properties. Natural fibers can also be matted into sheets to make paper or felt.

BioSteel was a trademark name for a high-strength fiber-based material made of the recombinant spider silk-like protein extracted from the milk of transgenic goats, made by defunct Montreal-based company Nexia Biotechnologies, and later by the Randy Lewis lab of the University of Wyoming and Utah State University. It is reportedly 7-10 times as strong as steel if compared for the same weight, and can stretch up to 20 times its unaltered size without losing its strength properties. It also has very high resistance to extreme temperatures, not losing any of its properties within −20 to 330 degrees Celsius.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biocomposite</span>

A biocomposite is a composite material formed by a matrix (resin) and a reinforcement of natural fibers. Environmental concern and cost of synthetic fibres have led the foundation of using natural fibre as reinforcement in polymeric composites. The matrix phase is formed by polymers derived from renewable and nonrenewable resources. The matrix is important to protect the fibers from environmental degradation and mechanical damage, to hold the fibers together and to transfer the loads on it. In addition, biofibers are the principal components of biocomposites, which are derived from biological origins, for example fibers from crops, recycled wood, waste paper, crop processing byproducts or regenerated cellulose fiber (viscose/rayon). The interest in biocomposites is rapidly growing in terms of industrial applications and fundamental research, due to its great benefits. Biocomposites can be used alone, or as a complement to standard materials, such as carbon fiber. Advocates of biocomposites state that use of these materials improve health and safety in their production, are lighter in weight, have a visual appeal similar to that of wood, and are environmentally superior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textile recycling</span> Method of reusing or reprocessing used clothing, fibrous material and rags

Textile recycling is the process of recovering fiber, yarn, or fabric and reprocessing the material into new, useful products. Textile waste is split into pre-consumer and post-consumer waste and is sorted into five different categories derived from a pyramid model. Textiles can be either reused or mechanically/chemically recycled.

Biotextiles are specialized materials engineered from natural or synthetic fibers. These textiles are designed to interact with biological systems, offering properties such as biocompatibility, porosity, and mechanical strength or are designed to be environmentally friendly for typical household applications. There are several uses for biotextiles since they are a broad category. The most common uses are for medical or household use. However, this term may also refer to textiles constructed from biological waste product. These biotextiles are not typically used for industrial purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bamboo textile</span> Textile made from various parts of the bamboo plant

Bamboo textile is any cloth, yarn or clothing made from bamboo fibres. While bamboo was historically used only for structural elements, such as bustles and the ribs of corsets, in recent years various technologies have been developed that allow bamboo fibre to be used for a wide range of textile and fashion applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cellulose fiber</span> Fibers made with ethers or esters of cellulose

Cellulose fibers are fibers made with ethers or esters of cellulose, which can be obtained from the bark, wood or leaves of plants, or from other plant-based material. In addition to cellulose, the fibers may also contain hemicellulose and lignin, with different percentages of these components altering the mechanical properties of the fibers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coex (material)</span>

Coex is a biopolymer with flame-retardant properties derived from the functionalization of cellulosic fibers such as cotton, linen, jute, cannabis, coconut, ramie, bamboo, raffia palm, stipa, abacà, sisal, nettle and kapok. The formation of coex has been proven possible on wood and semi-synthetic fibers such as cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, viscose, modal, lyocell and cupro.

Mubarak Ahmad Khan is a Bangladeshi scientist and a researcher in jute's commercial uses and possibilities. According to the science-based research database, Scopus, he is considered to be the leading scientist in the study of jute worldwide. He is currently serving as the Scientific Advisor of Bangladesh Jute Mills corporation (BJMC). Among his inventions are the Sonali Bag, Jutin, and helmets and tiles made from jute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical textiles</span> Textiles for medical and healthcare use

Medical textiles are numerous fiber-based materials intended for medical purposes. Medical textile is a sector of technical textiles that emphasizes fiber-based products used in health care applications such as prevention, care, and hygiene.

References

  1. ↑ "AMSilk Develops Spidersilk, a Biocompatible Material for Use in Cosmetic Formulations". cosmetics.specialchem.com. Retrieved 2016-05-24.
  2. ↑ "AMSilk and Fraunhofer partner in new spin process for spider silk". www.innovationintextiles.com. Retrieved 2016-05-24.
  3. 1 2 "AMSilk Moves to New Site, Will Produce "Game Changing" Vegan Silk at Industrial Scale". Vegconomist. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  4. ↑ Drake, Nadia. "Synthetic spider silk capsules assemble themselves (Wired UK)". Wired UK. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  5. ↑ "Biosteel Fiber". biosteel-fiber.com. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Adidas is launching biodegradable shoes that can be dissolved in 36 hours". Business Insider. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  7. ↑ "Meet AMSilk, the German Biotech Behind Adidas' Biodegradable Shoes". Labiotech.eu. 2018-06-04. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  8. ↑ "POLYTECH and AMSilk Announce Start of Joint International Clinical Study for Silk-Coated Medical Implants" (PDF). February 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  9. 1 2 "Food tech: satisfying investors' appetite for growth?". Financial Times. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  10. ↑ "AMSilk, world's first industrial supplier of environmentally friendly silk biopolymers". Yarnsandfibres.com. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  11. ↑ "AMSilk And Fraunhofer Institute For Applied Polymer Research Join In The Development Of New Spin Process For Spider Silk". Textile World. 13 September 2011. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  12. ↑ "Nature has all the answers". Textile Technology. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  13. ↑ "Adidas's high-tech factory brings production back to Germany". The Economist. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  14. ↑ Burns, Mark (18 November 2016). "Adidas unveils world's first performance shoe made exclusively from biosteel fiber". SI. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  15. ↑ Rodríguez Fernández, Clara (18 November 2016). "These Spider Silk Sneakers from Adidas Are Biodegradable". Labiotech. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  16. ↑ "AMSilk and Gruschwitz to develop products using Biosteel fibre". Innovation in Textiles. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  17. ↑ Rodríguez Fernández, Clara (30 April 2019). "Cosmetics Giant Acquires German Biotech's Spider Silk Cosmetics Arm". Labiotech. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  18. ↑ "Extension of Series C financing". Textile Technology. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  19. ↑ Scott, Alex. "Evonik to make spider silk for AMSilk". Chemical and Engineering News. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  20. ↑ Glover, Simon (8 February 2023). "Biotech pioneers to partner on protein fibres". Ecotextile News. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  21. ↑ "Spider insider: Optimise interactions between the body and implants". Medical Plastics News. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  22. ↑ "Award for the 50 most innovative companies in the world". Heise Online. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  23. ↑ "Synthetic spider silk: positive spin". Financial Times. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  24. 1 2 Feldman, Amy. "Spider Silk In Airplanes? Germany's AMSilk Inks Deal With Airbus To Develop A New High-Performance Material". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  25. ↑ "AMSilk GmbH: POLYTECH and AMSilk Announce Start of Joint International Clinical Study for Silk-Coated Medical Implants". Yahoo Finance. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  26. ↑ Rodríguez Fernández, Clara (31 January 2019). "Watch Strap Made of Recombinant Spider Silk Launches in Europe". Labiotech. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  27. ↑ "Digital World Premiere of the VISION EQXX - the most efficient Mercedes-Benz ever". Mercedes-Benz Media. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  28. ↑ "Mercedes-Benz Opts for AMSilk Vegan Materials in New Concept Car". Vegconomist. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  29. ↑ "Aircraft construction is being transformed". The Economist. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  30. 1 2 Grobosch, Lara (8 November 2022). "Biocouture: This is the most sustainable way to produce materials". Vogue Germany. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  31. ↑ Pells, Rachael. "Fibres of the future – How is science combating fashion's sustainability problem?". UPM.com. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  32. ↑ Pinnock, Olivia. "Fashion Attendees At Cop27 Say Meaningful Targets And Greenwashing Are Key Concerns". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
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