ANN ARBOR, Mich. — October 30, 2018 — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc., a developer of spider silk based fibers, announces today that, working under its contract with the U.S. Army, it developed a strain of genetically engineered silkworms that better match the physical properties required for applications in protective textiles.
Tentatively called Dragon Silk 2.0, this new strain is the next evolution in the development of protective fibers, built upon the company’s existing Dragon Silk, and is a further example of the company’s ability to adapt and tailor the properties of its recombinant spider silk materials to meet end market performance requirements. Through the use of its fiber performance testing capabilities, paired with a select breeding program, the company created a strain that is stronger, yet less elastic, than the original Dragon Silk.
Specifically created in response to input from the Army, based on requirements for antiballistic applications, this new strain of recombinant spider silk silkworms is the second phase of the company’s development agreement with the Army. Kraig Labs delivered shootpack panels to the Army, earlier this summer, made of its original Dragon Silk material and those panels are awaiting testing.
“When the Army chose to award the second phase of this project we knew that we were given a great opportunity to prove the power of our technology and our approach using silkworms,” said COO, Jon Rice. “Today we’re thrilled to announce that our work was a success and that we now have a line of silkworms that produce a recombinant spider silk better matched for the demands of protective textile applications. We expect this new strain will play a critical role in our expansion and commercialization of spider silk far beyond the market for bullet proof vests.”
Over the next several months Kraig Labs plans to scale up the production of this new recombinant spider silk fiber at the company’s domestic facility, in order to fulfill the second phase deliverables to the Army.
Posted October 30, 2018
Source: Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc.
