Method for biofabricating composite material

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method for producing a composite material comprising a biofabricated material and a secondary component. The secondary component may be a porous material, such as a sheet of paper, cellulose, or fabric that has been coated or otherwise contacted with the biofabricated material. The biofabricated material comprises a uniform network of crosslinked collagen fibrils and provides strength, elasticity and an aesthetic appearance to the composite material.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A composite material comprising:
 a secondary component comprising a first surface and a second surface;   a collagen-based material coupled to at least one of the first surface or the second surface of the secondary component;   the collagen-based material comprising:
 a network of non-human collagen fibrils; 
 1% to 40% of a lubricant by weight of the collagen-based material; and 
 5% to 40% water by weight of the collagen-based material. 
   
     
     
         17 . The composite material of  claim 16 , wherein collagen fibrils within the network of non-human collagen fibrils are crosslinked. 
     
     
         18 . The composite material of  claim 16 , wherein the secondary component comprises at least one of a woven material, a non-woven material, or a knitted material. 
     
     
         19 . The composite material of  claim 16 , wherein the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of a fat, castor oil, pine oil, lanolin, mink oil, neatsfoot oil, fish oil, shea butter, aloe, cod oil, a sulfonated oil, a polymer, an organofunctional siloxane, an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, a cationic polymeric surfactant, an anionic polymeric surfactant, an amphiphilic polymer, a fatty acid, a modified fatty acid, a nonionic hydrophilic polymer, a nonionic hydrophobic polymer, a polyacrylic acid, a polymethacrylic acid, an acrylic, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a resin, an amphiphilic anionic polymer, an amphiphilic anionic copolymer, an amphiphilic cationic polymer, an amphiphilic cationic copolymer, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The composite material of  claim 16 , wherein the composite material has a thickness of 0.05 mm to 50 mm. 
     
     
         21 . The composite material of  claim 16 , wherein the secondary component has a density in a range of 1 μg/mL to 500 mg/mL. 
     
     
         22 . The composite material of  claim 16 , wherein the non-human collagen fibrils and the secondary component are present within the composite material in a range of 1:100 to 100:1 (weight:weight). 
     
     
         23 . The composite material of  claim 16 , wherein the network of non-human collagen fibrils comprises recombinant non-human collagen fibrils. 
     
     
         24 . The composite material of  claim 16 , wherein the composite material has an elastic modulus in ranging from 100 kPa to 1,000 MPa. 
     
     
         25 . The composite material of  claim 16 , wherein the composite material has a stretchability in a range of 1% to 300% of a relaxed-state length of the composite material. 
     
     
         26 . The composite material of  claim 16 , wherein the composite material has a tensile strength in ranging from 1 kPa to 100 MPa. 
     
     
         27 . The composite material of  claim 16 , wherein the composite material has a tear strength ranging from 1 N to 500 N. 
     
     
         28 . A composite material, comprising:
 a secondary component; and   a collagen-based material comprising a network of non-human collagen fibrils,
 wherein the collagen-based material is coupled to and encapsulated within the secondary component. 
   
     
     
         29 . The composite material of  claim 28 , wherein non-human collagen fibrils within the network of non-human collagen fibrils are crosslinked. 
     
     
         30 . The composite material of  claim 28 , wherein the secondary component comprises a non-woven material. 
     
     
         31 . The composite material of  claim 28 , wherein the secondary component comprises a fiber. 
     
     
         32 . The composite material of  claim 28 , wherein the network of non-human collagen fibrils further comprises 1% to 40% of a lubricant by weight of the collagen-based material. 
     
     
         33 . The composite material of  claim 28 , wherein the network of non-human collagen fibrils further comprises 5% to 40% water by weight of the collagen-based material. 
     
     
         34 . The composite material of  claim 28 , wherein the network of non-human collagen fibrils further comprises 5% to 25% water by weight of the collagen-based material. 
     
     
         35 . The composite material of  claim 28 , wherein the network of non-human collagen fibrils comprises recombinant non-human collagen fibrils.