Oxford Biomaterials Ltd:
Harnessing Nature’s Materials & Designs
Silks are outstanding natural materials. Some silks from spiders form micron-scale filaments or nano-scale ribbons that combine enormous strength and exceptional elasticity. Other silks combine into self-assembling hydro-dynamic micromachines. Yet other silks outperform the best of man-made filaments at the cryogenic temperatures of Outer space. Last but not least, most silks are among the best insulators known.
Oxford Biomaterials' bespoke wide-ranging expertise about spider and insect silks is based on 30+ years of fundamental and applied research. In addition, OBM has developed deep insights into other immensely inspiring and super-tough biomaterials such as Ivory and Nacre.
OBM’s technologies allow us to manufacture bio-composites with outstanding mechanical properties. This in turn allows us to design novel bio-inspired composites for both medical and technical applications.
OBM’s proprietary Spidrex silk has performed exceptionally in academic research on spinal cord repair.
Read paper the paper in Nature HERE
OBM’s spin-out Newrotex Ltd is breaking ground in the repair of peripheral nerves.
Another of OBM’s spin-outs, Orthox Ltd deploys silk-sponge composites for the repair and regeneration of articulate cartilage, while its sister company Bounce Biomedical Ltd develops novel bio-glass composite for knee repair.
Yet another spin-out, Spintex Ltd perfects the technical spinning of natural silk fibres with outstanding mechanical properties.
In addition to its own spin-outs, OBM was involved in developing the silk-composites for INOarmor Inc, which makes silk based bicycle helmets and protective sleeves.
As you can see, OBM conducts its own R&D as well as collaborating with partners to develop novel bio-materials and bio-composite products. We are always happy to enter short-term or better still long-term relationships whether to develop ideas and products or to provide services.
History
OBM was spun-out in 2001 from the University of Oxford in order to commercialize the biomimetic spinning technology developed and patented by the company founders Professor Fritz Vollrath and Dr. David Knight. Incorporated as Spinox Ltd., the company received start-up capital from Technostart Gmbh and Oxford University ‘s Tech Transfer Challenge Fund.
The aim of this company was the development of a prototype microfluidic device capable of biomimetic spinning a silk fibre with the mechanical properties of spider dragline silk. Proof of concept was successfully achieved in 2003 and Spinox’s technology and IP was sold to Spintec Engineering Gmbh.
The funds from this sale allowed us to conceive and incorporate Oxford Biomaterials Ltd to focus on the development and modification of bespoke spider silk-like filaments, fibres, threads and scaffolds and their development for the bio-medical device industry. This resulted in the development of an entirely novel range of absorbable medical devices based on its proprietary Spidrex silk technology. Other in-house developments let to the development of products concerned with bone and cartilage repair, nerve regeneration, suture materials and vascular implants. Some of our major projects were generously funded by Europe’s Horizon, CASE and ERA Programmes, by UK’s Health Technology Development and other dedicated funds as well as by specific company investments.
Concerning non-medical applications, OBM developed super-tough bespoke silk filaments for military texiles funded by [dstl]
Collaborative research led to fibre-optic silk sensor filaments as well as a range of dedicated silk-based devises. Indeed, many of OBM’s collaborative projects were funded by various Horizon Europe Programs, the European Space Agency and the US Airforce Office of Scientific Research as well as by dedicated Hospital or Company Partner funds.