US 12,247,324 B2
Systems and methods for manufacturing a silk fibroin solution and powders containing silk fibroin
Amanda Baryshyan, Ipswich, MA (US); Nick Zhang, Newton, MA (US); Jesse Groner, Cambridge, MA (US); Adam Behrens, Boston, MA (US); Nicole Marco, Somerville, MA (US); Samantha Roman, Cambridge, MA (US); Rebeca Lopez-Garcia, Mexico City (MX); Lindsay Perrea, Allston, MA (US); Colin Preston, Salem, MA (US); Laith Abu-Taleb, Gaithersburg, MD (US); Linda Michelle Rauch, Amherst, MA (US); Herve Irenee Garant, III, West Bath, ME (US); and John Patrick Ellersick, Cambridge, MA (US)
Assigned to Cambridge Crops, Inc., Boston, MA (US)
Filed by Cambridge Crops, Inc., Boston, MA (US)
Filed on Jan. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/154,522.
Application 18/154,522 is a continuation of application No. 17/650,570, filed on Feb. 10, 2022, granted, now 11,584,784.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/231,399, filed on Aug. 10, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/212,283, filed on Jun. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/191,441, filed on May 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0175172 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01D 11/02 (2006.01); A23L 3/3526 (2006.01); B01D 1/16 (2006.01); B01D 37/04 (2006.01); B01D 61/14 (2006.01); B01D 61/22 (2006.01); B01D 63/10 (2006.01); C07K 1/14 (2006.01); C07K 1/34 (2006.01); C07K 14/435 (2006.01); D01F 4/02 (2006.01)
CPC D01F 4/02 (2013.01) [A23L 3/3526 (2013.01); B01D 1/16 (2013.01); B01D 11/0257 (2013.01); B01D 11/0261 (2013.01); B01D 37/048 (2013.01); B01D 61/14 (2013.01); B01D 61/146 (2022.08); B01D 61/147 (2013.01); B01D 61/22 (2013.01); B01D 63/10 (2013.01); C07K 1/145 (2013.01); C07K 1/34 (2013.01); C07K 14/43586 (2013.01); A23V 2002/00 (2013.01); B01D 2315/10 (2013.01); B01D 2315/16 (2013.01); D10B 2211/04 (2013.01); D10B 2211/22 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A silk manufacturing system comprising:
a first processing substation comprising at least one reactor vessel configured to receive silk inputs, extract silk fibroin proteins therefrom, and produce a silk fibroin-based solution, such that the silk fibroin-based solution is substantially free of sericin, wherein the first processing substation is configured to extract the silk fibroin proteins via degumming, rinsing, and dissolving processes within a single one of the at least one reactor vessel, wherein the at least one reactor vessel is sized to have an aspect ratio of height to diameter as defined by a work volume of about 0.5 to about 5.0 and is further configured to operate with a packing density of silk inputs of about 1% and about 30%;
a second processing substation in fluid communication with the first processing substation, the second processing substation configured to receive and purify the silk fibroin-based solution from the first processing substation, wherein the second processing substation comprises a filtration module comprising at least one membrane configured to substantially remove a second compound from the silk fibroin-based solution and produce a purified silk fibroin-based solution;
a reservoir disposed between the first and second processing substations and configured to at least one of hold or condition the silk fibroin-based solution; and
a pump assembly disposed between the first and second processing substations and configured to transfer the silk fibroin-based solution between the first processing substation, the reservoir, and the second processing substation.