DEVCOM CBC.pdf
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This document describes research and development capabilities at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command - Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC). DEVCOM CBC is advancing biotechnology and synthetic biology capabilities for defense applications such as persistent distributed surveillance, environmental intelligence, remediation technologies, protective materials, energy storage and generation, and on-the-spot manufacturing. Key capabilities include bio-manufacturing from basic research to pilot scale, bio-sensing at the point-of-need, and developing bio-derived materials such as biological carbon nanofibers from M13 bacteriophage and protoporphyrin IX. DEVCOM CBC supports the defense biotechnology ecosystem through its pilot plant facility, scaling up larger amounts of products for experimentation and prototyping for transition to industry partners. Current scaling efforts focus on next generation mask cartridges using phage carbon fibers, cheap biothreat detectors, manufacturing of reflectin for optical textiles, and waterless chemical decontamination sprays. The document provides contact information for inquiries regarding collaboration on basic research opportunities or use of DEVCOM CBC facilities.
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APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE: DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED
U.S. ARMY COMBAT CAPABILITIES
DEVELOPMENT COMMAND –
CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER
Marilyn Lee, PhD
Research Chemical Engineer
DEVCOM CBC
14 Dec 2020
Advancing Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology Capabilities
INTRODUCING DEVCOM CBC
ADVANCING BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR DEFENSE
Bio-manufacturing:
basic R&D to 1500 L pilot scale
Bio-sensing at the point-of-need Bio-derived materials
Protoporphyrin IX
M13 Phage BioCNF
PPIX@NU100
CB DEFENSE OPPORTUNITIES
• Persistent distributed surveillance
• Environmental Intelligence
• Remediation technologies
• Platform & eye protection
• Energy dense explosives
• Energy storage & generation
• Healing protective materials
• Concealment & obscuration
• On the spot manufacturing
• Stable high density data storage
• Water purification and remediation
IN THE SOLDIER
Nutrition and Sensors
Vaccines & therapeutics, physiological monitoring
Microbiome-based physical & cognitive performance optimizations
ON THE SOLDIER
Ballistic, environmental, and eye protection;
camouflage; light weight batteries
Uniform sensors for
CBRN, health and human performance monitoring, and decontamination
OUTSIDE THE SOLDIER:
ENVIRONMENT
HELPING THE SOLDIER AND
WARFIGHTING PLATFORMS
CBC Biomanufacturing
ARMY PILOT PLANT SUPPORTS DOD BIOTECH ECOSYSTEM
Defense labs and academic partners create new materials via synthetic biology
CBC scales up larger amounts for experimentation
& prototyping
DOD transitions products to industry partners for commercialization
6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4
Army
Pilot Plant
Products
Manufacturing Innovation Institute
Commercial PartnersTextile Monomers
Energetic Precursors
Optical Materials
R&D Products
CBC SYNBIO PROJECTS
CURRENT
CBC SCALING EFFORTS
Next Gen Mask cartridges using phage carbon fibers
Cheap biothreat detectors for austere environments using synbio genetic circuits
Biomanufacturing of reflectin for optical textiles that bend light
Waterless chemical decon sprays
Reducing the size of a gas tank by 2-fold using phage chamber filler
CBC BioCNFs
M13 Phage
Biological Carbon Nanofibers (BioCNFs)
M13 Bacteriophage
2,700 copies of pVIII coat proteins
~ 880 nm
Collaboration with Prof. Angela Belcher (MIT)
Application AreasBioCNF Form
Phage-template carbons have tunable morphology and chemistry leading to measurable changes in function
> 300g of BioCNF from 1500 L
Batch
Process for Making Pelletized
BioCNFs at Scale
PILOT SCALE FERMENTATION FOR MATERIALS
DEVELOPMENT
APPLICATION SPECIFIC TESTING
Kilogram quantities needed for application specific testing
Gas Mask Filters
Oxygen Storage Fiber Based
Technologies
CBC Cell-Free
Scale up Cell-Free
Biomanufacturing
Point-of-need sensing
CF functionalized materials
CBC Cell-Free
Scale up Cell-Free
Biomanufacturing
Point-of-need sensing
CF functionalized materials
WHAT ARE CELL-FREE SYSTEMS? – SOME APPLICATIONS
Cell-free Protein
Synthesis
(CFPS)
Cell Lysate
Energy Source
Transcription supply NTPs, T7 polymerase, DNA
Template
Other ingredients (spermidine, putrescine, Mg, K)
Amino Acids
E. coli
Biosensor outputs
LacZ eye readable reporter
Applications
Features
• Sensing • Genetic prototyping • Point-of-use biosynthesis
• No cell viability limits
• May store dried, very stable, elevated temperatures
• Fast design-build-test cycle
CELL-FREE FUNCTIONALIZED POLYMERS
Polymers can:
• Control CF hydration/activation rates or timing
• Localize CF functions
• Enable new form factors
Cell-free systems may be able to functionalize or modify a material on-demand
CF SYSTEMS FUNCTION AFTER EXPOSURE OF LYOPHILIZED POWDER
TO POLYMER CASTING CONDITIONS
Protein synthesis after organic solvent exposure
Solvent cast CF in poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) or
PLGA films.
CF freeze-dried powder
Heat press (80°C) CF in PCL disk Protein production at cut site of material
• Real-life-environment simulation for measurement of particle or spore travel/persistence/function in natural and man-made settings.
• Traditional and additive manufacturing facilities for prototype building
• State-of-the-art –omics instrumentation and expertise
• Laboratories cleared for BSL 3 and chemical agent work
CBC SPECIALIZED CAPABILITIES NOT YET MENTIONED
• General inquiries pertaining to collaboration on this BAA, Cell-free and biomaterials
– Myself: marilyn.f.lee.civ@mail.mil
• Material science, biomaterials scale up
– Dr. Jared Decoste: jared.b.decoste2.civ@mail.mil
• Scale up facility
– Dr. Sandy Gibbons: henry.s.gibbons.civ@mail.mil
CBC CONTACTS
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