GXY

Genetically programmable collagen materials for biodegradable high-performance textile fibres.

motivation

As one of the oldest and most important industries, the textile industry plays an important role in the development of sustainable industrial production methods. However, around 65% of all textiles on the market are currently of synthetic origin – global production of synthetic fibres has doubled between 2009 and 2021. The production of these fibres relies on enormous quantities of fossil resources as a raw material base and to provide the required process heat. In 2015, the textile industry consumed 98 Mt of crude oil and was therefore responsible for 2% of global CO2 emissions.  As demand for textiles continues to rise, the textile industry’s oil requirements are estimated at 300 Mt in 2050 – this would correspond to 26% of total CO2 emissions. Textiles also represent a major environmental problem. It is assumed that textiles will be responsible for 22 Mt of microplastics entering the oceans between 2015 and 2050. In addition, every European disposes of around 11kg of textiles every year. 73% of discarded clothing (~29.2 Mt/year) and 87% of textile fibres are currently either incinerated or sent to landfill. Large quantities of toxic chemicals are also used in the production of synthetic fibres, posing a risk to health and the environment.

Aim

In the project duration of 19 months, GXY aims at a fast, cost-efficient, collaborative development for the scalable production of novel, genetically programmable and biotechnologically produced collagen-based protein materials for high-performance and consumer-oriented textile fibres. A property profile that can be defined at the molecular level with desirable functional characteristics such as elasticity, biocompatibility and degradability allows the use of collagen fibres in a variety of textile applications as a replacement for currently available chemically synthesised fibres.

CO2TEX VISUALIZED

APPROACH

GXY is dedicated to the design and programmability of collagen polypeptides produced biotechnologically by recombinant protein synthesis in a bioreactor. GXY has decoded the unique collagen composition of a biological tissue, the goldbeater’s skin, which has historically been used as a high-performance textile. We follow the methodology of ‘reverse engineering’ to mimic the property profile of the native tissue using biosynthetic proteins. For GXY, biomaterial properties such as stretchability, tensile strength and self-healing capabilities are programmable at the genetic level. An already identified, novel structural element in the gold beater skin serves as the centrepiece for the design of a minimal sequence. Protein engineering is used to develop a biocompatible and collagen-containing fibre protein optimised for textile applications. Using molecular biological processes, microorganisms are genetically modified in such a way that they produce this polypeptide minimal sequence – a process that is already used industrially on a tonne scale to produce enzymes. The protein mass obtained can then be spun into functional fibres and yarns.

Project Partners

GET IN TOUCH

Claudio Flores M.Sc. claudio@mimotype.org
Paul Aspacher B.Sc. paul@mimotype.org
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