Increasing Advancements in Recombinant Production of Spider Silk Due to Rising Focus on Biomaterials to Drive Spider Silk Market Growth

 

Spider silk has garnered human interest for ages owing to its excellent features of toughness and ductility. Spider silk is one of the most outstanding fibrous biomaterials that consists a large amount of proteins and have shown to not cause inflammation and allergic reactions. Spider silk has been widely used for hunting, fishing, and in bandages as it is antimicrobial, hypoallergenic, and biodegradable. Spiders use their silk for various applications such as webs, wrapping of prey, protecting their offspring, and as a protective measure to ensure their safe escape from predators. As of now, over 34,000 different spider species are known and more than 130 variety of shapes of spider webs are known.

Orb webs are the most studied webs as they consist of several different types of silk. Frame and radii of the orb webs comprise strong and rigid silk and this silk is often used by the spiders as a roping thread. The capture spiral of an orb web contain only one type of protein that is produced in flagelliform gland of the spiders and hence is termed flag silk. Flag silk is highly elastic and can withstand massive impact and these resilient threads are crucial for catching and holding preys that are bigger than spider themselves. Spider silk predominantly consists of proteins that contain large amounts of non-polar and hydrophobic amino acids such as glycine or alanine. Due to its remarkable features such as low density, biodegradability, and unique mechanics, spider silk has been used as a natural biomaterial for a wide range of applications. However, harvesting spider silk from natural sources us challenging and does not provide substantial quantities. Recombinant production of spider silk has proven to be the best approach to produce this excellent material in sufficient quantities.

Availability of recombinantly produced spider silk proteins and their good processability has opened up new avenues of modern biomedical applications. Some of these recombinant spider silk variants are widely available commercially and this biotechnological spider silk production has enabled chemical and genetic modifications to tune the properties of spider silk proteins. Spider silk materials can remain mechanically stable without becoming fragile or brittle for a longer period of time at physiological conditions. Over the recent past, spider silk has been explored for tissue engineering and suture applications.

In a breakthrough study published in March 2022, a team of researchers from the Binghamton University made a new discovery of the capabilities of spider silk. Scientists found that orb-weaving spiders use their webs as an array to extend and sharpen their hearing – which could revolutionize audio hardware. Spider silk is highly sensitive and can reveal movement of vibrating air particles within a sound wave. The team of researchers are continuing to focus on leveraging spider silk to explore ways in which it can be used to detect sound to accelerate development of more sophisticated microphones for a wide range of purposes such as from hearing aids to cell phones. The research study has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Key companies in the biotechnology sector and in the global market are increasingly focusing on developing spider silk through various processes on a large-scale to meet a myriad of applications. Major companies in the market include Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc., AMSilk GmbH, Bolt Threads, Inc., Spiber, Inc., Seevix Material Sciences Ltd., Inspidere BV, Technology Holding LLC, Spintex Engineering Ltd., Spiber Technologies AB, Spidey Tek, Inc., and Xampla Ltd. In April 2022, Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc., which is a biotechnology company focused on development and commercialization of spider silk, announced the commencement of its first production run of the second quarter of its recombinant spider silk. To support the growing production capacity, the laboratory team has significantly increased the testing throughput and on completing the testing cycle, the company will have a throughput ten times more as compared to its Q1 2022 production. In the same month, the company announced it had raised USD 1.5 million in funding from a private investment firm as it aims to ramp up its production of spider silk to an industrial scale.  

Increasing Demand for Polycarbonate Plastics from Consumer Goods Industry to Contribute to Growth of Bisphenol A Market

 

Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical produced in very large quantities across the globe and is used in the synthesis of commercial plastic such as epoxy resins and polycarbonates. Bisphenol A is one of the most extensively used synthetic compounds in the world with an annual production of 5 million tonnes in the United States and a 13% growth in Asia. Bisphenol A is ubiquitous substance found in a wide range of consumer products and healthcare consumables. Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in eye-ware, optical devices, and medical equipment. Bisphenol A has been widely used in the production of polycarbonate plastic bottles and as protective coating inside metal food and beverage cans.  

Approximately 90% of the Bisphenol A produced worldwide is used as an intermediate in the production of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics. Bisphenol A is also a vital component of certain specialty applications such as flame-retardants and as an antioxidant and stabilizer in the production of PVC and other plastic items. Since 1960s, Bisphenol A has been used in food packaging to make epoxy resins that are critical to enhance the safety of food supply and contribute to healthy and modern lifestyles.

Browse Full Report Description + Research Methodology + Table of Content + Infographics@ https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/bisphenol-a-market

BPA is used safely in food packaging items to extend shelf life and protect food items from contamination and spoilage. Polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins have been approved for a long time by government agencies across the globe including the U.S. FDA and the European Food Safety Authority. Polycarbonate plastics are used to make food containers such as reusable beverage bottles, tableware, and storage containers. Epoxy resins are used a food-contact surface coatings for metal jar lids, cans, coatings and finishes, automobile parts, adhesives, and aerospace applications, and as a coating for PVC water pipe walls.

Bisphenol A has also been used in water supply pipes, medical devices, dental sealants, and composites along with development of certain drug candidates from Bisphenol A. Over the recent years, increasing investments have been made to accelerate research to develop bio-based bisphenol A for the production of epoxy resins due to its negative impact on the environment.   

Major companies in the market include LG Chem Ltd., Covestro AG, The Dow Chemical Company, SABIC, Kumho P&B Chemicals Inc., Mitsui Chemicals, Teijin Limited, China National Bluestar (Group) Co. Ltd., Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, and Samyang Holdings Corporation. In December 2021, Hexion Holdings announced it had agreed to sell its epoxy resins business to Westlake Chemical for USD 1.2 Billion. Hexion’s epoxy business has annual sales of USD 1.5 billion of liquid epoxy resins and raw materials such as bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin.

Custom Requirements can be requested for this Report [Customization Available] @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-for-customization/978

Growing Need to Reduce Lead Toxicity Paving the Way for Development of Lead-Free Piezoelectric Ceramic Materials

Environmentally-friendly lead-free piezoelectric ceramic materials with great properties and robust thermal stability are in demand in the industry. Over the recent years, environmental problems have emerged as a major concern across the globe. Restriction on hazardous substances have been implemented to minimize the use of toxic materials in the end products and by-products. This has boosted need for researches concerned with development of lead-free piezoelectric materials. Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics display enhanced piezoelectric properties that are comparable with lead zirconate titanate (PZT), which is the most widely used piezoelectric material. These materials overcome the hazard caused to the environment and human health. Discovery of easily produced piezoelectric ceramics with excellent performance characteristics boosted intense research and development of piezoelectric devices leading to their widespread applications.

Various piezoelectric ceramics have been commonly used in the recent years including BaTiO3, PZT, and lead magnesium niobate or lead zinc niobate. PZT is one of the most widely explored and extensively used piezoelectric materials for piezoelectric actuators, sensors, transducers. Implementation of policies and legislations to control the usage of lead-containing materials and increasing need to overcome drawback of lead toxicity, extensive research activities are carried out for development of alternate piezoelectric materials. Growing research interest is on development of lead-free piezoelectric materials that can replace current lead-based ones. Bulk lead-free piezoelectric ceramics are commonly prepared by solid-state synthesis, particularly from metal oxide-carbonate mixtures, and sintering. In addition, alternative approaches have also been introduced over the recent years such as solution routes and mechanochemical synthesis, or pressure- and electric filed-sintering.

Request Free Sample Copy (To Understand the Complete Structure of this Report [Summary + TOC]) @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-sample/994

There has been increasing research exploring utilizing lead-free piezoelectric ceramic materials for energy harvesting due to increased toxicity of using lead-based piezoelectric ceramic materials. Accurate control of texture is important for development of high-performance, lead-free piezoelectric ceramics to meet performance requirements similar to PZT. In 2021, a research study was published highlighting recent developments on production of lead-free piezoelectric materials. Scientists are focusing on development of lead-free piezoelectric materials using Bismuth sodium titanate. Lead-free piezoelectric ceramic are used in modern technology for their high dielectric constant, piezoelectric coefficient, low coercive field, and high Curie temperature to effectively substitute lead-based ceramics. Bismuth sodium titanate is considered to be an excellent candidate as a key material of lead-fee piezoelectric ceramics.

Key companies in the market include KYOCERA Corporation, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., PI Ceramic GmbH, Zibo Yuhai Electronic Ceramic Co., Ltd, Fuji Ceramics Corporation, NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd., Noritake Co., Limited, Kemet Corporation, Seiko Epson Corporation, and Canon Inc. Recently a research study was published by the Technical University of Denmark wherein researchers have found a new method to induce the piezoelectric effect in materials that are not piezoelectric, which can way for new uses and more eco-friendly materials. The research demonstrates a way for designing of piezoelectric materials that are lead-free and environmentally sustainable.  

Custom Requirements can be requested for this Report [Customization Available] @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-for-customization/994

Rapid Shift to Sustainable Production of Fuels and Focus on Green Development of Petrochemical Industry to Drive Bio Isobutene Market

Isobutene is a small volatile and highly reactive alkane and is an important starting material for the production of aklalyte and polymer gasoline, specialty chemicals, and butyl rubber. Isobutene is exclusively produced from fossil fuels through petrochemical cracking of crude oil. Emergence of global climate crisis has boosted demand for renewable alternatives for crude oil-based products. This is shifting focus on production of isobutene from renewable sources and includes two approaches; production of bio-based iosbutanol by bacterial fermentation and subsequent dehydration of isobutanol to isobutene and introduction of complete artificial metabolic pathway to convert glucose to isobutene by bacterial fermentation. Bio-iosbutene production route involves use of biomass-derived sugars and this has led to increase in research to identify enzymes and pathways for biological isobutene production.

Extensive metabolic engineering is needed for achieving economically viable yields and productivities during biological isobutene production. Advantages of completely biological production is that instead of isobutanol, gaseous isobutene is recovered from the fermenter along with carbon dioxide. In addition, growing focus on making production of this compound cost-efficient can enhance its conversion to biofuels or other products. In 2010, Global Bioenergies patented their research on the fermentative production of isobutene, demonstrating that bio-based production of isobutene was possible. Over the recent years, research has been carried out on the sustainable production of bioisobutene using lignocellulosic hydrolysate as a substrate.  

Browse Full Report Description + Research Methodology + Table of Content + Infographics@ https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/bio-isobutene-market

In September 2021, a breakthrough research study was published that provided details about creation of evolved enzymes to support a renewable process of isobutene. The new research findings are from a research collaboration between Global Bioenergies and a team of researchers from The University of Manchester. The research study describes evolution and mechanism of isobutene forming enzymes superior to conventional approaches and represents significant improvement in efficiency of bioproduction of isobutene, in turn, contributing to an economically viable and renewable process and accelerating a shift towards a more sustainable future.

Much of the current research is focused on optimization of production organisms via genetic engineering and careful manipulation and regulation of growth conditions. In March 2019, Butagaz and Global Bioenergies delivered the first batch of bio-iosbutene to largest organic wine cooperative in France, called Héraclès winery. Key companies in the Bio Isobutene market include Gevo, Inc., Global Bioenergies, Butagaz, BASF SE, ExxonMobil, LanzaTech Inc., Songwon Industrial, Butamax Advanced Biofuels, Clariant, and INEOS. In February 2022, Sweetwater Energy received final acceptance of its commercial Sunburst unit at Sweetwoods Project in Estonia, which is a bio-based joint industries joint undertaking-funded venture that uses sustainable hardwood to demonstrate efficiency of pretreatment technology in combination with tailored enzymatic solutions. The consortium has already commenced demo-scale bio-isobutene production and recently, conversion of this bio-isobutene into renewable aviation gasoline was successfully demonstrated. The pilot test indicated Sunburst’s cellulosic sugar allow for higher productivity of bio-isobutene with performances that are similar to traditional sugars.

Custom Requirements can be requested for this Report [Customization Available] @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-for-customization/995