# US 2014/0194025 A1 · Production of Highly Concentrated Solutions of Self-Assembling Proteins > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194025 A1 - Document ID: US20140194025A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/171,007 - Filed: 2014-02-03 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-26 - Assignees: Freudenberg Forschungsdienste KG; BASF SE - Applicants: Freudenberg Forschungsdienste KG; BASF SE - Inventors: Evgueni Klimov; Burghard Liebmann; Thomas Subkowski; Martin Möller; Doris Klee; Artem Davidenko; Wiebke Voigt; Gunter Scharfenberger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194025A1 ## CPC - C09D 189/00: Coating compositions based on proteins; Coating compositions based on derivatives thereof - C08L 89/00: Compositions of proteins; Compositions of derivatives thereof - B29C 48/05: Filamentary, e.g. strands - B29C 48/142: {using force fields, e.g. gravity or electrical fields (B29C48/9165 takes precedence)} - Y10T 442/681: Spun-bonded nonwoven fabric - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention concerns stable aqueous protein dispersions comprising in an aqueous phase at least one self-assembling protein in dispersed form and also at least one specific dispersant for the self-assembling protein; processes for producing such stable aqueous dispersions; processes for electrospinning self-assembling proteins using such stable aqueous dispersions; processes for producing fibrous sheet bodies or fibers from such aqueous dispersions; the use of such aqueous dispersions for coating surfaces; the use of the materials produced by electrospinning in the manufacture of medical devices, hygiene articles and textiles; and also fibrous or fibrous sheet bodies produced by an electrospinning process of the present invention. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stable aqueous protein dispersion comprising in an aqueous phase at least one self-assembling protein in dispersed form and at least one dispersant for the self-assembling protein, wherein the dispersant is a polymeric dispersant selected from amphiphilic proteins or is an oligomeric dispersant selected from amphiphilic peptide fragments and amphiphilic organic oligomers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stable aqueous dispersion of claim 1, wherein the self-assembling protein is a microbead-forming or intrinsically unfolded protein, a silk protein, a spider silk protein, an insect protein, or a self-assembling analog derived from at least one of these proteins and having a sequence identity of at least about 60% to the protein from which it is derived. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The stable aqueous dispersion of claim 1, wherein the self-assembling protein is selected from a) an R16 protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; b) an S16 protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6; or c) a spinnable analog protein derived from the protein of a) or b) and having a sequence identity of at least about 60% to SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The stable aqueous dispersion of claim 1, wherein the amphiphilic peptide fragment comprises a fragment of a precursor protein. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The stable aqueous dispersion of claim 1, wherein the polymeric dispersant is an albumin, a bovine serum albumin (BSA), or a fat-free bovine serum albumin (ffBSA). ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The stable aqueous dispersion of claim 4, wherein the precursor protein is an albumin, bovine serum albumin (BSA), or fat-free bovine serum albumin (ffBSA). ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The stable aqueous dispersion of claim 4, wherein the amphiphilic peptide fragment is a peptide fragment of a self-assembling protein, and wherein said self-assembling protein (a) is a microbead-forming or intrinsically unfolded protein, a silk protein, a spider silk protein, an insect protein, or a self-assembling analog derived from at least one of these proteins and having a sequence identity of at least about 60% to the protein from which it is derived; or (b) is selected from i) an R16 protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; ii) an S16 protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6; or iii) a spinnable analog protein derived from the protein of i) or ii) and having a sequence identity of at least about 60% to SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The stable aqueous dispersion of claim 1, wherein the amphiphilic organic oligomer is a block co-oligomer comprising ether structural units and comprising at least one hydrophobic ether oligomer block (having hydrophobic side groups) and at least one hydrophilic ether oligomer block (having hydrophilic side groups). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The stable aqueous dispersion of claim 1, comprising at least one self-assembling protein in a proportion in the range from 1% to 40% by weight, based on the total weight of the stable dispersion, optionally together with 0.01% to 50% by weight of at least one further formulating or processing auxiliary. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The stable aqueous dispersion of claim 1 comprising the self-assembling protein and the dispersant in a relative weight proportion in the range from 0.1:1 to 1:0.001. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A process for producing the stable aqueous dispersion of claim 1, which process comprises (a) dissolving the self-assembling protein in an aqueous medium comprising a solubilizer (chaotrope); and (b) dialyzing or ultrafiltering the resulting solution in the presence of a dispersant to remove the solubilizer (chaotrope) from the self-assembling protein. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The process of claim 11, wherein a mixture of self-assembling protein and polymeric dispersant is dissolved in the aqueous medium comprising the chaotrope and the chaotrope is removed from the self-assembling protein by dialysis against chaotrope-free dialysis medium, to form the stable aqueous dispersion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The process of claim 11, wherein the self-assembling protein is dissolved in the aqueous medium comprising the chaotrope and the chaotrope is removed from the self-assembling protein to form the stable dispersion by adding an amphiphilic peptide fragment or a synthetic amphiphilic oligomer before or during the removal of the chaotrope. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The process of claim 11, wherein the removing of the chaotrope is effected by dialysis, ultrafiltration, or precipitation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13, wherein the removing of the chaotrope is effected by dialyzing against a dialysis medium (dialysis buffer) comprising at least one amphiphilic peptide fragment or at least one synthetic amphiphilic oligomer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The process of claim 11, wherein the chaotrope-containing aqueous medium is exchanged for a buffered aqueous medium. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16, wherein the buffered medium has a pH in the range from about 10 to 12. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, wherein the dialysis volume is at least 100 times higher than the volume of the aqueous medium to be dialyzed, comprising chaotrope and self-assembling protein. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A process for electrospinning a self-assembling protein, which process comprises electrospinning the stable aqueous dispersion of claim 1 or a stable aqueous dispersion obtained by a process for producing a stable aqueous dispersion of at least one self-assembling protein that is a microbead-forming or intrinsically unfolded protein, a silk protein, a spider silk protein, an insect protein, or a self-assembling analog derived from at least one of these proteins and having a sequence identity of at least about 60%, which process comprises self-assembling protein being dissolved in an aqueous medium comprising a solubilizer (chaotrope) and the resulting solution being dialyzed or ultrafiltered in the presence of dispersant to remove the solubilizer (chaotrope) from the self-assembling protein. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A process for producing a fibrous sheet body or fibers comprising at least one self-assembling protein, which process comprises a) electrospinning the aqueous dispersion of claim 1 to form a fibrous sheet body; or b) electrospinning a stable aqueous dispersion obtained by a process for producing a stable aqueous dispersion of at least one self-assembling protein that is a microbead-forming or intrinsically unfolded protein, a silk protein, a spider silk protein, an insect protein, or a self-assembling analog derived from at least one of these proteins and having a sequence identity of at least about 60% to the protein from which it is derived, which process comprises self-assembling protein being dissolved in an aqueous medium comprising a solubilizer (chaotrope) and the resulting solution being dialyzed or ultrafiltered in the presence of dispersant to remove the solubilizer (chaotrope) from the self-assembling protein, to form a fibrous sheet body. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The process of claim 19, wherein the dispersion to be spun comprises self-assembling protein in a proportion of 1% to 40% by weight based on the total weight of the stable dispersion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The process of claim 19, wherein the dispersion before spinning is mixed with at least one further additive selected from a) a viscosity-adjusting compound, an organic/synthetic or biopolymer soluble or dispersible in the dispersion; b) a carrier-forming polymer; or c) a pharmacological, agrochemical, skin- or hair-cosmetic active compound. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A method for coating a surface, a nonwoven, a fiber or a foam comprising coating a surface, nonwoven, fiber or foam with the stable aqueous protein dispersion of claim 1. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) A method for the manufacture of a product for the medical sector, a wound contact material, a suture, a medical device, an implant, or tissue engineering comprising utilizing the material produced by the process of claim 19 for producing a product for the medical sector, a wound contact material, a suture, a medical device, an implant, or tissue engineering. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) A method for the manufacture of a hygiene article or textile comprising utilizing the material obtained by the process of claim 19 in the production of a hygiene article or textile. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) A fiber or fibrous sheet body obtained by the process of claim 20.