Our dry lab efforts focus on utilizing advanced software and hardware technologies, as well as mindful analytics, to support our carbon-sequestering spider silk production platform. In total, we have three main dry lab components, each contributing to a specific stage of our project

The GPSS software tool provides an advanced platform for the design and optimization of spider silk proteins. It integrates innovative machine learning models, including GPT, to generate spider silk sequences that exhibit desirable mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elasticity. With its user-friendly interface, users can easily input their desired physical properties of spider silk, generate the predicted sequence, and obtain structure prediction, molecular weight, and various other characteristics. This tool accelerates the process of spider silk optimization, aiding researchers in designing materials that meet specific functional and stability requirements..

To learn more, visit our Software page.

The FLEXS hardware platform is designed to enhance data collection in shake flask experiments, which are essential in early-stage spider silk production. By automating the data acquisition process using a combination of I2C-compatible sensors like BME280 (for temperature, humidity, and pressure) and the pH2 Click for pH measurement, FLEXS reduces the risk of contamination and improves the accuracy of experimental conditions. Its versatile design supports multiple microcontrollers, making it ideal for embedding in complex systems while streamlining sensor management and data transfer.

To learn more, visit our Hardware page.

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model plays a vital role in tracking the carbon footprint of spider silk production. This model allows for a comprehensive assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from various stages of production, including using organic waste as an alternative bioresource. The LCA focuses on comparing the environmental impact of using traditional media versus wastewater-based media for spider silk production. By integrating this model into the overall platform, it helps optimize the environmental sustainability of the production process

To learn more, visit our Model page