Page 9 - tech fest 2025 אשדוד חוברת תקצירים

Optimizing Urea-Based Solubilization of Lamin Inclusion Bodies for Improved Protein Yield and Purity
ChE-A-01
Elad Aharon; elad0aharon@gmail.com
Advisor: Dr. Kfir Ben-Harush
SCE - Shamoon College of Engineering, Ashdod
The purification of recombinant lamin proteins relies on solubilizing bacterial inclusion bodies using urea buffers. However, the efficiency of this critical step directly affects protein yield and purity, impacting downstream material performance. The goal of this project is to systematically study the effect of urea solubilization conditions on lamin recovery. Specifically, we investigated how temperature, retention time in the buffer, and the ratio between buffer volume and bacterial mass influence the solubilized protein mass and purity. Protein concentrations are quantified and purity is analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The desired outcome is tehe optimization of the solubilization protocol to achieve higher protein yields with improved purity—enabling more efficient and reproducible production of lamin nanofilaments for biomaterial applications.
Keywords: inclusion bodies, lamin proteins, process optimization, protein purification, urea solubilization
Bioinspired Toughening of Cellulose Nanocrystal Films Using Lamin Nanofilament Coatings and DOPA-Mediated Adhesion
ChE-A-02
Einav Elmaleh; einav524@gmail.com
Advisor: Dr. Kfir Ben-Harush
SCE - Shamoon College of Engineering, Ashdod
Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) films are lightweight materials with excellent stiffness that suffer from inherent brittleness, limiting their practical applications. This project proposes a bioinspired strategy to toughen CNC films by coating them with lamin nanofilament solutions, creating a multilayered structure combining the stiffness of CNC with the toughness of lamin proteins. Upon drying, the lamin forms a continuous nanofilament layer over the CNC surface, expected to improve crack resistance and energy dissipation. To further enhance interfacial adhesion, the tyrosine residues in lamin proteins may be enzymatically converted to DOPA using tyrosinase—mimicking mussel adhesion chemistry. The goal of this project is to explore both mechanical improvements and molecular interactions between lamin nanofilaments and CNC, paving the way for biodegradable, tough and functional bio-based films.
Keywords: cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), DOPA adhesion, lamin nanofilaments, protein-polysaccharide interface, tough biofilms
Book of Abstracts | 2025
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