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AMSilk

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For the recombinant spider silk-like protein extracted from the milk of transgenic goats, see BioSteel (fiber).

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]

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

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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

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

Products and services

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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

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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]

References

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  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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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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