??? 在加州大學舊金山分校攻讀生物化學和工程博士學位時，丹?維德梅爾、大衛?布雷斯勞爾和伊桑?米爾斯基對使用結網蜘蛛的蛋白纖維（即所謂的蜘蛛絲）制造人造絲的想法產生了濃厚的興趣。實際上，蜘蛛絲的強度是鋼筋的5倍，比人造纖維Kevlar還要更加堅韌。

????從2009年起，這幾位博士生就著手研發一項不需要蜘蛛就能制造這類蛋白的技術。經過多年的秘密研發和生產，Bolt Threads公司終于推出了利用專利工程技術織成的絲織品，并宣布進行3230萬美元的B輪融資。

????在Foundation Capital的引領下，Formation 8和Founders Fund等公司相繼為這輪融資買單。該公司目前的融資總額已經超過4000萬美元。

????Bolt Threads利用專利技術制造出一種工程絲纖維，這種絲纖維基于蜘蛛絲中發現的蛋白質，可大規模生產制造。

????在科學的角度上解釋，Bolt實際上是解析了蜘蛛的DNA，用其他成分復制那些基因序列，從而創造出了一種相似的絲纖維。

????Bolt絲纖維的主要成分包括糖、水、鹽和酵母。結合在一起，這些成分就能夠生成一種液體絲蛋白。通過一項名為“濕紡”的工藝，這種液體可以轉變成纖維，其制造方法類似于腈綸和人造棉。

????將其放在顯微鏡下觀察，你會發現Bolt工程絲纖維的化學成分與蜘蛛或蠶制造的動物絲一模一樣。

????維德梅爾解釋道，Bolt生產的絲織品不僅擁有與傳統絲織品類似的特征，比如保暖、質感柔軟，而且更便于清洗和穿著。比如說，你不必使用干洗，因為它的堅韌度足以經受洗衣機。該公司正與北卡羅萊納州的紡織品廠商合作，以大批量生產這種面料。

????Bolt并不是唯一一家試圖大批量生產蜘蛛絲的公司。日本初創公司Spiber也在營銷一種類似的纖維。此外，德國公司Amsilk正在開發一種商用蜘蛛絲。

????Bolt公司將利用新募集到的資金來增加這種絲織品的產量，進一步提高它的商品化。（財富中文網）

????譯者：嚴匡正

????審校：任文科

????While in UC San Francisco’s PhD biochemistry and engineering program, Dan Widmaier, David Breslauer and Ethan Mirsky became fascinated with the idea of creating man-made silk from the protein fibers in the webs spiders make, called spider silk. In fact, spider silk is known to be five times stronger than steel, and tougher than man made fabric Kevlar.

????The PhD students set out in 2009 to create a technology that makes these proteins without using spiders. After years in stealth research and production, Bolt Threads is finally debuting its proprietary engineered silk, along with announcing a new $32.3 million round in Series B funding.

????Foundation Capital led the round, which included new investors Formation 8 and Founders Fund. The company has raised a total of $40 million.

????Bolt Threads uses proprietary technologies to create engineered silk fibers based on proteins found in spider silk that can be produced at commercial scale.

????At a scientific level, Bolt actually examines the DNA of spiders and then replicates those genetic sequences in other ingredients to create a similar silk fiber.

????Bolt’s silk is made primarily of sugar, water, salts and yeast, which combined makes a liquid silk protein. Through a process called wet spinning, this liquid is spun into fiber, similar to the way fibers like acrylic and rayon are made.

????If you look under a microscope, says the company, Bolt’s engineered silk fibers have the exact same chemistry as naturally occurring animal silks from spiders or silk worms.

????Widmaier explains that the silk fabric created by Bolt has similar qualities to conventional silk in that it will provide warmth, and a softer feel, but will be easier to wash and wear. For example, you won’t have to dry clean Bolt’s silk because it will have the durability to be washed in a machine. The company is working with textile manufacturers in North Carolina to commercially scale production of the fabric.

????Bolt isn’t the only company to try to create spider silk at mass. Japanese startup Spiber is marketing a similar fiber. German company Amsilk is also developing commercial grad spider silk.

????The company will be using the new funding to expand production and commercialization of its silk fabric.