GXY
GXY sounds as futuristic and high-tech as the whole idea behind the BIOTEXFUTURE project. Specifically, GXY is a clean and more efficient alternative to environmentally harmful synthetic textile fibers, such as those made from elastane, which is expected to be banned in Europe in the near future. GXY is based on synthetically produced collagen peptides, which are an essential component of our bones, tendons, muscles, and skin, among other things.
The “G” in GXY stands for the amino acid glycine and the XY for the multitude of amino acids and their possible combinations that dock onto the G, thus forming the typical amino acid sequence pattern that codes the structure of collagen fibers. This is the basis for another bio-based and forward-looking new textile material that is biodegradable and aims to make us less dependent on fossil raw materials in the textile industry.
The new textile material is based on an animal tissue called goldbeater's skin, which is obtained from the intestinal tissue of cows. Its molecular composition and natural performance were researched in the previous BIOTEXFUTURE project “GOLD.” The idea for GXY emerged from this project. The follow-up project will now investigate how the material analyzed in the GOLD project can be artificially reproduced in the laboratory.