1
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Jones EM, Marken JP, Silver PA. Synthetic microbiology in sustainability applications. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:345-359. [PMID: 38253793 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-01007-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Microorganisms are a promising means to address many societal sustainability challenges owing to their ability to thrive in diverse environments and interface with the microscale chemical world via diverse metabolic capacities. Synthetic biology can engineer microorganisms by rewiring their regulatory networks or introducing new functionalities, enhancing their utility for target applications. In this Review, we provide a broad, high-level overview of various research efforts addressing sustainability challenges through synthetic biology, emphasizing foundational microbiological research questions that can accelerate the development of these efforts. We introduce an organizational framework that categorizes these efforts along three domains - factory, farm and field - that are defined by the extent to which the engineered microorganisms interface with the natural external environment. Different application areas within the same domain share many fundamental challenges, highlighting productive opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaborations between researchers working in historically disparate fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan M Jones
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John P Marken
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Resnick Sustainability Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Pamela A Silver
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
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2
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George I, Kalairaj MS, Zimmern PE, Ware TH, Subashchandrabose S. Competitive fitness of asymptomatic bacteriuria E. coli strain 83972 against uropathogens in human urine. Infect Immun 2024:e0017324. [PMID: 38780216 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00173-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide. The main causative agent of UTI is uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). There is an immediate need for novel prophylactic and treatment strategies against UTI because of the increasing incidence of antimicrobial resistance among uropathogens. ABU 83972, an asymptomatic bacteriuria-causing E. coli strain, prevents UTI by suppressing the colonization of UPEC. However, the nature of competition and growth repression of UPEC by ABU 83972 is unclear and is the subject of our investigation. Here, we characterized the growth kinetics of ABU 83972 and uropathogens in human urine and laboratory media. Next, we performed a series of competitive co-culture experiments where ABU 83972 and uropathogens were inoculated at a 1:1 ratio in human urine and in various media, and their relative abundance was determined. In human urine, ABU 83972 outcompeted UPEC and additional uropathogens, reaching up to 90% of the total population after 24 hours of incubation. In contrast, UPEC outcompeted ABU 83972 in LB and M9 minimal media and exhibited superior colonization than ABU 83972 in the mouse urinary bladder. Since engineered living materials (ELMs) can be used to retain an organism of interest in a particular location, we developed ABU 83972-containing ELMs that effectively outcompeted UPEC in human urine. In summary, our work establishes that ABU 83972 outcompetes UPEC in a milieu- and cell-density-dependent manner, highlighting the importance of the metabolites and nutrients found in the human urine as determinants of the competitive fitness of ABU 83972.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris George
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | | | - Philippe E Zimmern
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Taylor H Ware
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Sargurunathan Subashchandrabose
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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3
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Wang Y, Di Z, Qin M, Qu S, Zhong W, Yuan L, Zhang J, Hibberd JM, Yu Z. Advancing Engineered Plant Living Materials through Tobacco BY-2 Cell Growth and Transfection within Tailored Granular Hydrogel Scaffolds. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2024; 10:1094-1104. [PMID: 38799669 PMCID: PMC11117683 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.4c00338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
In this study, an innovative approach is presented in the field of engineered plant living materials (EPLMs), leveraging a sophisticated interplay between synthetic biology and engineering. We detail a 3D bioprinting technique for the precise spatial patterning and genetic transformation of the tobacco BY-2 cell line within custom-engineered granular hydrogel scaffolds. Our methodology involves the integration of biocompatible hydrogel microparticles (HMPs) primed for 3D bioprinting with Agrobacterium tumefaciens capable of plant cell transfection, serving as the backbone for the simultaneous growth and transformation of tobacco BY-2 cells. This system facilitates the concurrent growth and genetic modification of tobacco BY-2 cells within our specially designed scaffolds. These scaffolds enable the cells to develop into predefined patterns while remaining conducive to the uptake of exogenous DNA. We showcase the versatility of this technology by fabricating EPLMs with unique structural and functional properties, exemplified by EPLMs exhibiting distinct pigmentation patterns. These patterns are achieved through the integration of the betalain biosynthetic pathway into tobacco BY-2 cells. Overall, our study represents a groundbreaking shift in the convergence of materials science and plant synthetic biology, offering promising avenues for the evolution of sustainable, adaptive, and responsive living material systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College
of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhengao Di
- Department
of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, U.K.
- Earlham
Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UG, U.K.
| | - Minglang Qin
- State
Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College
of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shenming Qu
- State
Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College
of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenbo Zhong
- State
Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College
of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lingfeng Yuan
- State
Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College
of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Zhang
- State
Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College
of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, People’s Republic of China
| | - Julian M. Hibberd
- Department
of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, U.K.
| | - Ziyi Yu
- State
Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College
of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, People’s Republic of China
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4
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Lin N, Taghizadehmakoei A, Polovina L, McLean I, Santana-Martínez JC, Naese C, Moraes C, Hallam SJ, Dahmen J. 3D Bioprinting of Food Grade Hydrogel Infused with Living Pleurotus ostreatus Mycelium in Non-sterile Conditions. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024; 7:2982-2992. [PMID: 38587496 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Mycelium is the root-like network of fungi. Mycelium biocomposites prepared by template replication (molding) can function as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional polystyrene foams, which are energy- and carbon-intensive to manufacture. Recently, several studies have shown that 3D bioprinting technologies can be used to produce high value functional mycelium products with intricate geometries that are otherwise difficult or impossible to achieve via template replication. A diverse range of nutrients, thickeners, and gelling agents can be combined to produce hydrogels suitable for 3D bioprinting. 3D bioprinting with hydrogel formulations infused with living fungi produces engineered living materials that continue to grow after bioprinting is complete. However, a hydrogel formulation optimized for intricate 3D bioprinting of Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium, which is among the strains most commonly used in mycelium biocomposite fabrication, has yet to be described. Here, we design and evaluate a versatile hydrogel formulation consisting of malt extract (nutrient), carboxymethylcellulose and cornstarch (thickeners), and agar (gelling agent), all of which are easily sourced food grade reagents. We also outline a reproducible workflow to infuse this hydrogel with P. ostreatus liquid culture for 3D bioprinting of intricate structures comprised of living P. ostreatus mycelium and characterize the changes in height and mass as well as hardness of the prints during mycelium growth. Finally, we demonstrate that the workflow does not require a sterile bioprinting environment to achieve successful prints and that the same mycelium-infused hydrogel can be supplemented with additives such as sawdust to produce mycelium biocomposite objects. These findings demonstrate that 3D bioprinting using mycelium-based feedstocks could be a promising biofabrication technique to produce engineered living materials for applications such as mushroom cultivation, food preparation, or construction of the built environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Lin
- School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, University of British Columbia, 6333 Memorial Road, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z2, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University Street, Montréal, Québec H3A 0C5, Canada
| | - Alireza Taghizadehmakoei
- School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, University of British Columbia, 6333 Memorial Road, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - Lorena Polovina
- School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, University of British Columbia, 6333 Memorial Road, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - Isobel McLean
- School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, University of British Columbia, 6333 Memorial Road, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - Juan C Santana-Martínez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Chloe Naese
- School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, University of British Columbia, 6333 Memorial Road, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - Christopher Moraes
- School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, University of British Columbia, 6333 Memorial Road, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z2, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University Street, Montréal, Québec H3A 0C5, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montréal, Québec H3A 2B4, Canada
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University, 1160 Pine Avenue West, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A3, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, 1001 Décarie Boulevard, Montréal, Québec H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Steven James Hallam
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, University of British Columbia, 570 West seventh Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Genome Science and Technology Program, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
- ECOSCOPE Training Program, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Joseph Dahmen
- School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, University of British Columbia, 6333 Memorial Road, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z2, Canada
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5
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Liu S, Yang M, Smarr C, Zhang G, Barton H, Xu W. Engineered Living Structures with Shape-Morphing Capability Enabled by 4D Printing with Functional Bacteria. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024; 7:3247-3257. [PMID: 38648508 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Engineered living structures with the incorporation of functional bacteria have been explored extensively in recent years and have shown promising potential applications in biosensing, environmental remediation, and biomedicine. However, it is still rare and challenging to achieve multifunctional capabilities such as material production, shape transformation, and sensing in a single-engineered living structure. In this study, we demonstrate bifunctional living structures by synergistically integrating cellulose-generating bacteria with pH-responsive hydrogels, and the entire structures can be precisely fabricated by three-dimensional (3D) printing. Such 3D-printed bifunctional living structures produce cellulose nanofibers in ambient conditions and have reversible and controlled shape-morphing properties (usually referred to as four-dimensional printing). Those functionalities make them biomimetic versions of silkworms in the sense that both can generate nanofibers and have body motion. We systematically investigate the processing-structure-property relationship of the bifunctional living structures. The on-demand separation of 3D cellulose structures from the hydrogel template and the living nature of the bacteria after processing and shape transformation are also demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Liu
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Muxuan Yang
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Cade Smarr
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Ge Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Hazel Barton
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Weinan Xu
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
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6
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van Wijngaarden EW, Goetsch AG, Brito IL, Hershey DM, Silberstein MN. Engineering Bacterial Biomanufacturing: Characterization and Manipulation of Sphingomonas sp. LM7 Extracellular Polymers. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.16.594401. [PMID: 38798469 PMCID: PMC11118415 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.16.594401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Biologically produced materials are an attractive alternative to traditional materials such as metals and plastics and offer improved functionalities such as better biodegradability and biocompatibility. Polysaccharides are an example of a biologically produced materials that can have a range of chemical and physical properties including high stiffness to weight ratios and thermal stability. Biomanufactured bacterial polysaccharides can come with many advantages such as being non-toxic and are mechanically robust relative to proteins and lipids, which are also secreted by bacteria to generate a biofilm. One major goal in biomanufacturing is to produce quality material quickly and cost-effectively. Biomanufacturing offers additional benefits compared to traditional manufacturing including low resource investment and equipment requirements, providing an alternative to sourcing fossil fuel byproducts, and relatively low temperatures needed for production. However, many biologically produced materials require complex and lengthy purification processes before use. This paper 1) identifies the material properties of a novel polysaccharide, dubbed promonan, isolated from the extracellular polymeric substances of Sphingomonas sp. LM7; 2) demonstrates that these properties can be manipulated to suit specific applications; and 3) presents two alternative methods of processing to shorten purification time by more than 50% while maintaining comparable material.
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7
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Kim HS, Noh MH, White EM, Kandefer MV, Wright AF, Datta D, Lim HG, Smiggs E, Locklin JJ, Rahman MA, Feist AM, Pokorski JK. Biocomposite thermoplastic polyurethanes containing evolved bacterial spores as living fillers to facilitate polymer disintegration. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3338. [PMID: 38688899 PMCID: PMC11061138 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47132-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The field of hybrid engineered living materials seeks to pair living organisms with synthetic materials to generate biocomposite materials with augmented function since living systems can provide highly-programmable and complex behavior. Engineered living materials have typically been fabricated using techniques in benign aqueous environments, limiting their application. In this work, biocomposite fabrication is demonstrated in which spores from polymer-degrading bacteria are incorporated into a thermoplastic polyurethane using high-temperature melt extrusion. Bacteria are engineered using adaptive laboratory evolution to improve their heat tolerance to ensure nearly complete cell survivability during manufacturing at 135 °C. Furthermore, the overall tensile properties of spore-filled thermoplastic polyurethanes are substantially improved, resulting in a significant improvement in toughness. The biocomposites facilitate disintegration in compost in the absence of a microbe-rich environment. Finally, embedded spores demonstrate a rationally programmed function, expressing green fluorescent protein. This research provides a scalable method to fabricate advanced biocomposite materials in industrially-compatible processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Sol Kim
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Myung Hyun Noh
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Research Center for Bio-based Chemistry, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), 406-30 Jongga-ro, Ulsan, 44429, Republic of Korea
| | - Evan M White
- New Materials Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | | | - Austin F Wright
- New Materials Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Debika Datta
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Hyun Gyu Lim
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Ethan Smiggs
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Jason J Locklin
- New Materials Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Md Arifur Rahman
- Thermoplastic Polyurethane Research, BASF Corporation, 1609 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte, MI, 48192, USA.
| | - Adam M Feist
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Building 220, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Jonathan K Pokorski
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Institute for Materials Discovery and Design, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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8
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Lee MS, Lee JA, Biondo JR, Lux JE, Raig RM, Berger PN, Bernhards CB, Kuhn DL, Gupta MK, Lux MW. Cell-Free Protein Expression in Polymer Materials. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:1152-1164. [PMID: 38467017 PMCID: PMC11036507 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
While synthetic biology has advanced complex capabilities such as sensing and molecular synthesis in aqueous solutions, important applications may also be pursued for biological systems in solid materials. Harsh processing conditions used to produce many synthetic materials such as plastics make the incorporation of biological functionality challenging. One technology that shows promise in circumventing these issues is cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS), where core cellular functionality is reconstituted outside the cell. CFPS enables genetic functions to be implemented without the complications of membrane transport or concerns over the cellular viability or release of genetically modified organisms. Here, we demonstrate that dried CFPS reactions have remarkable tolerance to heat and organic solvent exposure during the casting processes for polymer materials. We demonstrate the utility of this observation by creating plastics that have spatially patterned genetic functionality, produce antimicrobials in situ, and perform sensing reactions. The resulting materials unlock the potential to deliver DNA-programmable biofunctionality in a ubiquitous class of synthetic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn S. Lee
- U.S.
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Jennifer A. Lee
- U.S.
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
- Defense
Threat Reduction Agency, 2800 Bush River Road, Gunpowder, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - John R. Biondo
- U.S.
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
- Excet
Inc., 6225 Brandon Avenue,
Suite 360, Springfield, Virginia 22150, United States
| | - Jeffrey E. Lux
- US
Air Force Research Laboratory, 2179 12th Street, B652/R122, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
- UES
Inc., 4401 Dayton-Xenia
Road, Dayton, Ohio 45432, United States
| | - Rebecca M. Raig
- US
Air Force Research Laboratory, 2179 12th Street, B652/R122, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
- UES
Inc., 4401 Dayton-Xenia
Road, Dayton, Ohio 45432, United States
| | - Pierce N. Berger
- U.S.
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Casey B. Bernhards
- U.S.
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Danielle L. Kuhn
- U.S.
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Maneesh K. Gupta
- US
Air Force Research Laboratory, 2179 12th Street, B652/R122, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Matthew W. Lux
- U.S.
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
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9
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Herdman M, Isbilir B, von Kügelgen A, Schulze U, Wainman A, Bharat TAM. Cell cycle dependent coordination of surface layer biogenesis in Caulobacter crescentus. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3355. [PMID: 38637514 PMCID: PMC11026435 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47529-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Surface layers (S-layers) are proteinaceous, two-dimensional paracrystalline arrays that constitute a major component of the cell envelope in many prokaryotic species. In this study, we investigated S-layer biogenesis in the bacterial model organism Caulobacter crescentus. Fluorescence microscopy revealed localised incorporation of new S-layer at the poles and mid-cell, consistent with regions of cell growth in the cell cycle. Light microscopy and electron cryotomography investigations of drug-treated bacteria revealed that localised S-layer insertion is retained when cell division is inhibited, but is disrupted upon dysregulation of MreB or lipopolysaccharide. We further uncovered that S-layer biogenesis follows new peptidoglycan synthesis and localises to regions of high cell wall turnover. Finally, correlated cryo-light microscopy and electron cryotomographic analysis of regions of S-layer insertion showed the presence of discontinuities in the hexagonal S-layer lattice, contrasting with other S-layers completed by defined symmetric defects. Our findings present insights into how C. crescentus cells form an ordered S-layer on their surface in coordination with the biogenesis of other cell envelope components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Herdman
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Buse Isbilir
- Structural Studies Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Andriko von Kügelgen
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
- Structural Studies Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Ulrike Schulze
- Cell Biology Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Alan Wainman
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Tanmay A M Bharat
- Structural Studies Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.
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10
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Zhang D, Chen Y, Hao M, Xia Y. Putting Hybrid Nanomaterials to Work for Biomedical Applications. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202319567. [PMID: 38429227 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202319567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Hybrid nanomaterials have found use in many biomedical applications. This article provides a comprehensive review of the principles, techniques, and recent advancements in the design and fabrication of hybrid nanomaterials for biomedicine. We begin with an introduction to the general concept of material hybridization, followed by a discussion of how this approach leads to materials with additional functionality and enhanced performance. We then highlight hybrid nanomaterials in the forms of nanostructures, nanocomposites, metal-organic frameworks, and biohybrids, including their fabrication methods. We also showcase the use of hybrid nanomaterials to advance biomedical engineering in the context of nanomedicine, regenerative medicine, diagnostics, theranostics, and biomanufacturing. Finally, we offer perspectives on challenges and opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Zhang
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Yidan Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Min Hao
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Younan Xia
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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11
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Shen SC, Lee NA, Lockett WJ, Acuil AD, Gazdus HB, Spitzer BN, Buehler MJ. Robust myco-composites: a biocomposite platform for versatile hybrid-living materials. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2024; 11:1689-1703. [PMID: 38315077 DOI: 10.1039/d3mh01277h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Fungal mycelium, a living network of filamentous threads, thrives on lignocellulosic waste and exhibits rapid growth, hydrophobicity, and intrinsic regeneration, offering a potential means to create next-generation sustainable and functional composites. However, existing hybrid-living mycelium composites (myco-composites) are tremendously constrained by conventional mold-based manufacturing processes, which are only compatible with simple geometries and coarse biomass substrates that enable gas exchange. Here we introduce a class of structural myco-composites manufactured with a novel platform that harnesses high-resolution biocomposite additive manufacturing and robust mycelium colonization with indirect inoculation. We leverage principles of hierarchical composite design and selective nutritional provision to create a robust myco-composite that is scalable, tunable, and compatible with complex geometries. To illustrate the versatility of this platform, we characterize the impact of mycelium colonization on mechanical and surface properties of the composite. We found that our method yields the strongest mycelium composite reported to date with a modulus of 160 MPa and tensile strength of 0.72 MPa, which represents over a 15-fold improvement over typical mycelium composites, and further demonstrate unique applications with fabrication of foldable bio-welded containers and flexible mycelium textiles. This study bridges the gap between biocomposite and hybrid-living materials research, opening the door to advanced structural mycelium applications and demonstrating a novel platform for development of diverse hybrid-living materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina C Shen
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave. 1-165, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Nicolas A Lee
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave. 1-165, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- School of Architecture and Planning, Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 75 Amherst Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - William J Lockett
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave. 1-165, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- MIT Center for Art, Science & Technology (CAST), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave. 10-183, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Media, Culture, and Communication, New York University, 239 Greene Street, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Aliai D Acuil
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave. 1-165, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Hannah B Gazdus
- School of Architecture and Planning, Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 75 Amherst Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Branden N Spitzer
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave. 1-165, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Markus J Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave. 1-165, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Center for Computational Science and Engineering, Schwarzman College of Computing, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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12
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Leech G, Melcher L, Chiu M, Nugent M, Burton L, Kang J, Kim SJ, Roy S, Farhadi L, Ross JL, Das M, Rust MJ, Robertson-Anderson RM. Timed material self-assembly controlled by circadian clock proteins. ARXIV 2024:arXiv:2303.00779v2. [PMID: 36911279 PMCID: PMC10002811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Active biological molecules present a powerful, yet largely untapped, opportunity to impart autonomous regulation to materials. Because these systems can function robustly to regulate when and where chemical reactions occur, they have the ability to bring complex, life-like behavior to synthetic materials. Here, we achieve this design feat by using functionalized circadian clock proteins, KaiB and KaiC, to engineer time-dependent crosslinking of colloids. The resulting material self-assembles with programmable kinetics, producing macroscopic changes in material properties, via molecular assembly of KaiB-KaiC complexes. We show that colloid crosslinking depends strictly on the phosphorylation state of KaiC, with kinetics that are synced with KaiB-KaiC complexing. Our microscopic image analyses and computational models indicate that the stability of colloidal super-structures depends sensitively on the number of Kai complexes per colloid connection. Consistent with our model predictions, a high concentration stabilizes the material against dissolution after a robust self-assembly phase, while a low concentration allows circadian oscillation of material structure. This work introduces the concept of harnessing biological timers to control synthetic materials; and, more generally, opens the door to using protein-based reaction networks to endow synthetic systems with life-like functional properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Leech
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, California 92110, United States
| | - Lauren Melcher
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York 14623, United States
| | - Michelle Chiu
- Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Maya Nugent
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, California 92110, United States
| | - Lily Burton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Janet Kang
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology and Department of Physics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Soo Ji Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Sourav Roy
- Department of Physics, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Leila Farhadi
- Department of Physics, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Jennifer L Ross
- Department of Physics, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Moumita Das
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York 14623, United States
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York 14623, United States
| | - Michael J Rust
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology and Department of Physics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Rae M Robertson-Anderson
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, California 92110, United States
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13
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Zhu R, Zhang J, Wang L, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Han Y, Sun J, Zhang X, Dou Y, Yao H, Yan W, Luo X, Dai J, Dai Z. Engineering functional materials through bacteria-assisted living grafting. Cell Syst 2024; 15:264-274.e9. [PMID: 38460522 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2024.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Functionalizing materials with biomacromolecules such as enzymes has broad applications in biotechnology and biomedicine. Here, we introduce a grafting method mediated by living cells to functionalize materials. We use polymeric scaffolds to trap engineered bacteria and micron-sized particles with chemical groups serving as active sites for grafting. The bacteria synthesize the desired protein for grafting and autonomously lyse to release it. The released functional moieties are locally grafted onto the active sites, generating the materials engineered by living grafting (MELGs). MELGs are resilient to perturbations because of both the bonding and the regeneration of functional domains synthesized by living cells. The programmability of the bacteria enables us to fabricate MELGs that can respond to external input, decompose a pollutant, reconstitute synthetic pathways for natural product synthesis, and purify mismatched DNA. Our work establishes a bacteria-assisted grafting strategy to functionalize materials with a broad range of biological activities in an integrated, flexible, and modular manner. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the supplemental information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runtao Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yunfeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Soft Bio-interface Electronics Lab, Center of Neural Engineering, CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems, Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ying Han
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Soft Bio-interface Electronics Lab, Center of Neural Engineering, CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems, Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ying Dou
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Huaxiong Yao
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Wei Yan
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xiaozhou Luo
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Junbiao Dai
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhuojun Dai
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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14
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Wang Z, Sun W, Hua R, Wang Y, Li Y, Zhang H. Promising dawn in tumor microenvironment therapy: engineering oral bacteria. Int J Oral Sci 2024; 16:24. [PMID: 38472176 DOI: 10.1038/s41368-024-00282-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of research, cancer continues to be a major global health concern. The human mouth appears to be a multiplicity of local environments communicating with other organs and causing diseases via microbes. Nowadays, the role of oral microbes in the development and progression of cancer has received increasing scrutiny. At the same time, bioengineering technology and nanotechnology is growing rapidly, in which the physiological activities of natural bacteria are modified to improve the therapeutic efficiency of cancers. These engineered bacteria were transformed to achieve directed genetic reprogramming, selective functional reorganization and precise control. In contrast to endotoxins produced by typical genetically modified bacteria, oral flora exhibits favorable biosafety characteristics. To outline the current cognitions upon oral microbes, engineered microbes and human cancers, related literatures were searched and reviewed based on the PubMed database. We focused on a number of oral microbes and related mechanisms associated with the tumor microenvironment, which involve in cancer occurrence and development. Whether engineering oral bacteria can be a possible application of cancer therapy is worth consideration. A deeper understanding of the relationship between engineered oral bacteria and cancer therapy may enhance our knowledge of tumor pathogenesis thus providing new insights and strategies for cancer prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zifei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wansu Sun
- Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ruixue Hua
- Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yuanyin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
| | - Hengguo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
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15
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Cecen B, Hassan S, Li X, Zhang YS. Smart Biomaterials in Biomedical Applications: Current Advances and Possible Future Directions. Macromol Biosci 2024; 24:e2200550. [PMID: 37728061 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202200550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Smart biomaterials with the capacity to alter their properties in response to an outside stimulus or from within the environment around them have picked up significant attention in the biomedical community. This is primarily due to the interest in their biomedical applications that may be anticipated from them in a considerable number of dynamic structures and devices. Shape-memory materials are some of these materials that have been exclusively used for these applications. They exhibit unique structural reconfiguration features they adapt as per the provided environmental conditions and can be designed for their enhanced biocompatibility. Numerous research initiatives have focused on these smart biocompatible materials over the last few decades to enhance their biomedical applications. Shape-memory materials play a significant role in this regard to meet new surgical and medical devices' requirements for special features and utility cases. Because of the favorable design variety, different biomedical shape-memory materials can be developed by modifying their chemical and physical behaviors to accommodate the desired requirements. In this review, recent advances and characteristics of smart biomaterials for biomedical applications are described. The authors also discuss about their clinical translations in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and medical devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berivan Cecen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey, 08028, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey, 08028, USA
| | - Shabir Hassan
- Department of Biology, Khalifa University, Main Campus, Abu Dhabi, 127788, UAE
- Advanced Materials Chemistry Center (AMCC), Khalifa University, SAN Campus, Abu Dhabi, 127788, UAE
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Xin Li
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Yu Shrike Zhang
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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16
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Xiao M, Lv S, Zhu C. Bacterial Patterning: A Promising Biofabrication Technique. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024. [PMID: 38408887 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial patterning has emerged as a pivotal biofabrication technique in the biomedical field. In the past 2 decades, a diverse array of bacterial patterning approaches have been developed to enable the precise manipulation of the spatial distribution of bacterial patterns for various applications. Despite the significance of these advancements, there is a deficiency of review articles providing an overview of bacterial patterning technologies. In this mini-review, we systematically summarize the progress of bacterial patterning over the past 2 decades. This review commences with an elucidation of the definition and fundamental principles of bacterial patterning. Subsequently, we introduce the established bacterial patterning strategies, accompanied by discussions about the advantages and limitations of each approach. Furthermore, we showcase the biomedical applications of these strategies, highlighting their efficacy in spatial control of biofilms, biosensing, and biointervention. Finally, this mini-review is concluded with a summary and an outlook on future challenges and opportunities. It is anticipated that this mini-review can serve as a concise guide for those who are interested in this exciting and rapidly evolving research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Shuyi Lv
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Chunlei Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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17
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Rensink S, van Nieuwenhuijzen EJ, Sailer MF, Struck C, Wösten HAB. Use of Aureobasidium in a sustainable economy. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:202. [PMID: 38349550 PMCID: PMC10864419 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13025-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Aureobasidium is omnipresent and can be isolated from air, water bodies, soil, wood, and other plant materials, as well as inorganic materials such as rocks and marble. A total of 32 species of this fungal genus have been identified at the level of DNA, of which Aureobasidium pullulans is best known. Aureobasidium is of interest for a sustainable economy because it can be used to produce a wide variety of compounds, including enzymes, polysaccharides, and biosurfactants. Moreover, it can be used to promote plant growth and protect wood and crops. To this end, Aureobasidium cells adhere to wood or plants by producing extracellular polysaccharides, thereby forming a biofilm. This biofilm provides a sustainable alternative to petrol-based coatings and toxic chemicals. This and the fact that Aureobasidium biofilms have the potential of self-repair make them a potential engineered living material avant la lettre. KEY POINTS: •Aureobasidium produces products of interest to the industry •Aureobasidium can stimulate plant growth and protect crops •Biofinish of A. pullulans is a sustainable alternative to petrol-based coatings •Aureobasidium biofilms have the potential to function as engineered living materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Rensink
- Department of Biology, Microbiology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Department of Business, Building and Technology, Sustainable Building Technology, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, M.H. Tromplaan 28, 7513 AB, Enschede, the Netherlands.
| | - Elke J van Nieuwenhuijzen
- Faculty of Technology, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Rhijnspoorplein 2, 1091 GC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michael F Sailer
- Department of Business, Building and Technology, Sustainable Building Technology, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, M.H. Tromplaan 28, 7513 AB, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Christian Struck
- Department of Business, Building and Technology, Sustainable Building Technology, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, M.H. Tromplaan 28, 7513 AB, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Han A B Wösten
- Department of Biology, Microbiology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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18
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Oh JJ, Ammu S, Vriend VD, Kieffer R, Kleiner FH, Balasubramanian S, Karana E, Masania K, Aubin-Tam ME. Growth, Distribution, and Photosynthesis of Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii in 3D Hydrogels. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2305505. [PMID: 37851509 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202305505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Engineered living materials (ELMs) are a novel class of functional materials that typically feature spatial confinement of living components within an inert polymer matrix to recreate biological functions. Understanding the growth and spatial configuration of cellular populations within a matrix is crucial to predicting and improving their responsive potential and functionality. Here, this work investigates the growth, spatial distribution, and photosynthetic productivity of eukaryotic microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii) in three-dimensionally shaped hydrogels in dependence of geometry and size. The embedded C. reinhardtii cells photosynthesize and form confined cell clusters, which grow faster when located close to the ELM periphery due to favorable gas exchange and light conditions. Taking advantage of location-specific growth patterns, this work successfully designs and prints photosynthetic ELMs with increased CO2 capturing rate, featuring high surface to volume ratio. This strategy to control cell growth for higher productivity of ELMs resembles the already established adaptations found in multicellular plant leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Joo Oh
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft, 2629 HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Satya Ammu
- Shaping Matter Lab, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, Delft, 2629 HS, The Netherlands
| | - Vivian Dorine Vriend
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft, 2629 HZ, The Netherlands
- Department of Sustainable Design Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Landbergstraat 15, Delft, 2628 CE, The Netherlands
| | - Roland Kieffer
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft, 2629 HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Friedrich Hans Kleiner
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft, 2629 HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Srikkanth Balasubramanian
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft, 2629 HZ, The Netherlands
- Department of Sustainable Design Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Landbergstraat 15, Delft, 2628 CE, The Netherlands
| | - Elvin Karana
- Department of Sustainable Design Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Landbergstraat 15, Delft, 2628 CE, The Netherlands
| | - Kunal Masania
- Shaping Matter Lab, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, Delft, 2629 HS, The Netherlands
| | - Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft, 2629 HZ, The Netherlands
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19
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Allahbakhsh A, Gadegaard N, Ruiz CM, Shavandi A. Graphene-Based Engineered Living Materials. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2300930. [PMID: 37806771 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
With the rise of engineered living materials (ELMs) as innovative, sustainable and smart systems for diverse engineering and biological applications, global interest in advancing ELMs is on the rise. Graphene-based nanostructures can serve as effective tools to fabricate ELMs. By using graphene-based materials as building units and microorganisms as the designers of the end materials, next-generation ELMs can be engineered with the structural properties of graphene-based materials and the inherent properties of the microorganisms. However, some challenges need to be addressed to fully take advantage of graphene-based nanostructures for the design of next-generation ELMs. This work covers the latest advances in the fabrication and application of graphene-based ELMs. Fabrication strategies of graphene-based ELMs are first categorized, followed by a systematic investigation of the advantages and disadvantages within each category. Next, the potential applications of graphene-based ELMs are covered. Moreover, the challenges associated with fabrication of next-generation graphene-based ELMs are identified and discussed. Based on a comprehensive overview of the literature, the primary challenge limiting the integration of graphene-based nanostructures in ELMs is nanotoxicity arising from synthetic and structural parameters. Finally, we present possible design principles to potentially address these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Allahbakhsh
- 3BIO-BioMatter, École polytechnique de Bruxelles, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, 1050, Belgium
| | - Nikolaj Gadegaard
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Carmen M Ruiz
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Université de Toulon, IM2NP, UMR 7334, Marseille, F-13397, France
| | - Amin Shavandi
- 3BIO-BioMatter, École polytechnique de Bruxelles, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, 1050, Belgium
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20
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Boons R, Siqueira G, Grieder F, Kim SJ, Giovanoli D, Zimmermann T, Nyström G, Coulter FB, Studart AR. 3D Bioprinting of Diatom-Laden Living Materials for Water Quality Assessment. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2300771. [PMID: 37691091 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202300771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Diatoms have long been used as living biological indicators for the assessment of water quality in lakes and rivers worldwide. While this approach benefits from the great diversity of these unicellular algae, established protocols are time-consuming and require specialized equipment. Here, this work 3D prints diatom-laden hydrogels that can be used as a simple multiplex bio-indicator for water assessment. The hydrogel-based living materials are created with the help of a desktop extrusion-based printer using a suspension of diatoms, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and alginate as bio-ink constituents. Rheology and mechanical tests are employed to establish optimum bio-ink formulations, whereas cell culture experiments are utilized to evaluate the proliferation of the entrapped diatoms in the presence of selected water contaminants. Bioprinting of diatom-laden hydrogels is shown to be an enticing approach to generate living materials that can serve as low-cost bio-indicators for water quality assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rani Boons
- Cellulose & Wood Materials Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Gilberto Siqueira
- Cellulose & Wood Materials Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Florian Grieder
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Soo-Jeong Kim
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Diego Giovanoli
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Tanja Zimmermann
- Cellulose & Wood Materials Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland
| | - Gustav Nyström
- Cellulose & Wood Materials Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Fergal B Coulter
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - André R Studart
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
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21
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Jeon J, Lee KZ, Zhang X, Jaeger J, Kim E, Li J, Belaygorod L, Arif B, Genin GM, Foston MB, Zayed MA, Zhang F. Genetically Engineered Protein-Based Bioadhesives with Programmable Material Properties. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 38039085 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c12919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Silk-amyloid-mussel foot protein (SAM) hydrogels made from recombinant fusion proteins containing β-amyloid peptide, spider silk domain, and mussel foot protein (Mfp) are attractive bioadhesives as they display a unique combination of tunability, biocompatibility, bioabsorbability, strong cohesion, and underwater adhesion to a wide range of biological surfaces. To design tunable SAM hydrogels for tailored surgical repair applications, an understanding of the relationships between protein sequence and hydrogel properties is imperative. Here, we fabricated SAM hydrogels using fusion proteins of varying lengths of silk-amyloid repeats and Mfps to characterize their structure and properties. We found that increasing silk-amyloid repeats enhanced the hydrogel's β-sheet content (r = 0.74), leading to higher cohesive strength and toughness. Additionally, increasing the Mfp length beyond the half-length of the full Mfp sequence (1/2 Mfp) decreased the β-sheet content (r = -0.47), but increased hydrogel surface adhesion. Among different variants, the hydrogel made of 16xKLV-2Mfp displayed a high ultimate strength of 3.0 ± 0.3 MPa, an ultimate strain of 664 ± 119%, and an attractive underwater adhesivity of 416 ± 20 kPa to porcine skin. Collectively, the sequence-structure-property relationships learned from this study will be useful to guide the design of future protein adhesives with tunable characteristics for tailored surgical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juya Jeon
- Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Kok Zhi Lee
- Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Xiaolu Zhang
- Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - John Jaeger
- Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Eugene Kim
- Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Jingyao Li
- Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Larisa Belaygorod
- Department of Surgery, Section of Vascular Surgery, Washington University of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Batool Arif
- Department of Surgery, Section of Vascular Surgery, Washington University of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Guy M Genin
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
- Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
- Division of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Marcus B Foston
- Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Mohamed A Zayed
- Department of Surgery, Section of Vascular Surgery, Washington University of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Department of Radiology, Washington University of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Washington University of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Washington University of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System, 915 North Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63106, United States
| | - Fuzhong Zhang
- Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
- Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
- Division of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
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22
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Peng R, Ba F, Li J, Cao J, Zhang R, Liu WQ, Ren J, Liu Y, Li J, Ling S. Embedding Living Cells with a Mechanically Reinforced and Functionally Programmable Hydrogel Fiber Platform. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2305583. [PMID: 37498452 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202305583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Living materials represent a new frontier in functional material design, integrating synthetic biology tools to endow materials with programmable, dynamic, and life-like characteristics. However, a major challenge in creating living materials is balancing the tradeoff between structural stability, mechanical performance, and functional programmability. To address this challenge, a sheath-core living hydrogel fiber platform that synergistically integrates living bacteria with hydrogel fibers to achieve both functional diversity and structural and mechanical robustness is proposed. In the design, microfluidic spinning is used to produce hydrogel fiber, which offers advantages in both structural and functional designability due to their hierarchical porous architectures that can be tailored and their mechanical performance that can be enhanced through a variety of post-processing approaches. By introducing living bacteria, the platform is endowed with programmable functionality and life-like capabilities. This work reconstructs the genetic circuits of living bacteria to express chromoproteins and fluorescent proteins as two prototypes that enable the coloration of living fibers and sensing water pollutants by monitoring the amount of fluorescent protein expressed. Altogether, this study establishes a structure-property-function optimized living hydrogel fiber platform, providing a new tool for accelerating the practical applications of the emerging living material systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoxuan Peng
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Fang Ba
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Jie Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Jiayi Cao
- College of Fashion and Design, Donghua University, 1882 West Yan'an Road, Shanghai, 200051, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Wan-Qiu Liu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Jing Ren
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Yifan Liu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Jian Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, 201210, China
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23
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Xiong LL, Garrett MA, Kornfield JA, Shapiro MG. Living Material with Temperature-Dependent Light Absorption. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2301730. [PMID: 37713073 PMCID: PMC10602556 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202301730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Engineered living materials (ELMs) exhibit desirable characteristics of the living component, including growth and repair, and responsiveness to external stimuli. Escherichia coli (E. coli) are a promising constituent of ELMs because they are very tractable to genetic engineering, produce heterologous proteins readily, and grow exponentially. However, seasonal variation in ambient temperature presents a challenge in deploying ELMs outside of a laboratory environment because E. coli growth rate is impaired both below and above 37 °C. Here, a genetic circuit is developed that controls the expression of a light-absorptive chromophore in response to changes in temperature. It is demonstrated that at temperatures below 36 °C, the engineered E. coli increase in pigmentation, causing an increase in sample temperature and growth rate above non-pigmented counterparts in a model planar ELM. On the other hand, at above 36 °C, they decrease in pigmentation, protecting the growth compared to bacteria with temperature-independent high pigmentation. Integrating the temperature-responsive circuit into an ELM has the potential to improve living material performance by optimizing growth and protein production in the face of seasonal temperature changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lealia L. Xiong
- Division of Engineering and Applied SciencesCalifornia Institute of Technology1200 E. California Blvd.PasadenaCA91125USA
| | - Michael A. Garrett
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringCalifornia Institute of Technology1200 E. California Blvd.PasadenaCA91125USA
| | - Julia A. Kornfield
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringCalifornia Institute of Technology1200 E. California Blvd.PasadenaCA91125USA
| | - Mikhail G. Shapiro
- Division of Engineering and Applied SciencesCalifornia Institute of Technology1200 E. California Blvd.PasadenaCA91125USA
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringCalifornia Institute of Technology1200 E. California Blvd.PasadenaCA91125USA
- Howard Hughes Medical InstituteCalifornia Institute of Technology1200 E. California Blvd.PasadenaCA91125USA
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24
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Zhou Y, Liu K, Zhang H. Biomimetic Mineralization: From Microscopic to Macroscopic Materials and Their Biomedical Applications. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023; 6:3516-3531. [PMID: 36944024 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Biomineralization is an attractive pathway to produce mineral-based biomaterials with high performance and hierarchical structures. To date, the biomineralization process and mechanism have been extensively studied, especially for the formation of bone, teeth, and nacre. Inspired by those, abundant biomimetic mineralized materials have been fabricated for biomedical applications. Those bioinspired materials generally exhibit great mechanical properties and biological functions. Nevertheless, substantial gaps remain between biomimetic materials and natural materials, particularly with respect to mechanical properties and mutiscale structures. This Review summarizes the recent progress of micro- and macroscopic biomimetic mineralization from the perspective of materials synthesis and biomedical applications. To begin with, we discuss the progress of biomimetic mineralization at the microscopic level. The mechanical strength, stability, and functionality of the nano- and micromaterials are significantly improved by introducing biominerals, such as DNA nanostructures, nanovaccines, and living cells. Next, numerous biomimetic strategies based on biomineralization at the macroscopic scale are highlighted, including in situ mineralization and bottom-up assembly of mineralized building blocks. Finally, challenges and future perspectives regarding the development of biomimetic mineralization are also presented with the aim of offering insights for the rational design and fabrication of next-generation biomimetic mineralized materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusai Zhou
- Engineering Research Center of Advanced Rare Earth Materials, Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kai Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Advanced Rare Earth Materials, Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China
| | - Hongjie Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Advanced Rare Earth Materials, Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China
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25
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Xie Q, On Lee S, Vissamsetti N, Guo S, Johnson ME, Fried SD. Secretion-Catalyzed Assembly of Protein Biomaterials on a Bacterial Membrane Surface. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202305178. [PMID: 37469298 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202305178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Protein-based biomaterials have played a key role in tissue engineering, and additional exciting applications as self-healing materials and sustainable polymers are emerging. Over the past few decades, recombinant expression and production of various fibrous proteins from microbes have been demonstrated; however, the resulting proteins typically must then be purified and processed by humans to form usable fibers and materials. Here, we show that the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis can be programmed to secrete silk through its translocon via an orthogonal signal peptide/peptidase pair. Surprisingly, we discover that this translocation mechanism drives the silk proteins to assemble into fibers spontaneously on the cell surface, in a process we call secretion-catalyzed assembly (SCA). Secreted silk fibers form self-healing hydrogels with minimal processing. Alternatively, the fibers retained on the membrane provide a facile route to create engineered living materials from Bacillus cells. This work provides a blueprint to achieve autonomous assembly of protein biomaterials in useful morphologies directly from microbial factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Xie
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sea On Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nitya Vissamsetti
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sikao Guo
- T. C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Margaret E Johnson
- T. C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephen D Fried
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
- T. C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
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26
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Wang Q, Hu Z, Li Z, Liu T, Bian G. Exploring the Application and Prospects of Synthetic Biology in Engineered Living Materials. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023:e2305828. [PMID: 37677048 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202305828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
At the intersection of synthetic biology and materials science, engineered living materials (ELMs) exhibit unprecedented potential. Possessing unique "living" attributes, ELMs represent a significant paradigm shift in material design, showcasing self-organization, self-repair, adaptability, and evolvability, surpassing conventional synthetic materials. This review focuses on reviewing the applications of ELMs derived from bacteria, fungi, and plants in environmental remediation, eco-friendly architecture, and sustainable energy. The review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research progress and emerging design strategies for ELMs in various application fields from the perspectives of synthetic biology and materials science. In addition, the review provides valuable references for the design of novel ELMs, extending the potential applications of future ELMs. The investigation into the synergistic application possibilities amongst different species of ELMs offers beneficial reference information for researchers and practitioners in this field. Finally, future trends and development challenges of synthetic biology for ELMs in the coming years are discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiwen Wang
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Center of Materials Synthetic Biology, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zhehui Hu
- Center of Materials Synthetic Biology, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zhixuan Li
- Center of Materials Synthetic Biology, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Tiangang Liu
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Guangkai Bian
- Center of Materials Synthetic Biology, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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27
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Martinić Cezar T, Lozančić M, Novačić A, Matičević A, Matijević D, Vallée B, Mrša V, Teparić R, Žunar B. Streamlining N-terminally anchored yeast surface display via structural insights into S. cerevisiae Pir proteins. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:174. [PMID: 37679759 PMCID: PMC10483737 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02183-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Surface display co-opts yeast's innate ability to embellish its cell wall with mannoproteins, thus converting the yeast's outer surface into a growing and self-sustaining catalyst. However, the efficient toolbox for converting the enzyme of interest into its surface-displayed isoform is currently lacking, especially if the isoform needs to be anchored to the cell wall near the isoform's N-terminus, e.g., through a short GPI-independent protein anchor. Aiming to advance such N-terminally anchored surface display, we employed in silico and machine-learning strategies to study the 3D structure, function, genomic organisation, and evolution of the Pir protein family, whose members evolved to covalently attach themselves near their N-terminus to the β-1,3-glucan of the cell wall. Through the newly-gained insights, we rationally engineered 14 S. cerevisiae Hsp150 (Pir2)-based fusion proteins. We quantified their performance, uncovering guidelines for efficient yeast surface display while developing a construct that promoted a 2.5-fold more efficient display of a reporter protein than the full-length Hsp150. Moreover, we developed a Pir-tag, i.e., a peptide spanning only 4.5 kDa but promoting as efficient surface display of a reporter protein as the full-length Hsp150. These constructs fortify the existing surface display toolbox, allowing for a prompt and routine refitting of intracellular proteins into their N-terminally anchored isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tea Martinić Cezar
- Laboratory for Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Mateja Lozančić
- Laboratory for Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Ana Novačić
- Laboratory for Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Ana Matičević
- Laboratory for Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Dominik Matijević
- Laboratory for Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Béatrice Vallée
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire (CBM), CNRS, University of Orléans and INSERM, Orléans Cedex 2, UPR, 4301, 45071, France
| | - Vladimir Mrša
- Laboratory for Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Renata Teparić
- Laboratory for Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Bojan Žunar
- Laboratory for Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.
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28
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Simpson K, L'Homme A, Keymer J, Federici F. Spatial biology of Ising-like synthetic genetic networks. BMC Biol 2023; 21:185. [PMID: 37667283 PMCID: PMC10478219 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01681-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding how spatial patterns of gene expression emerge from the interaction of individual gene networks is a fundamental challenge in biology. Developing a synthetic experimental system with a common theoretical framework that captures the emergence of short- and long-range spatial correlations (and anti-correlations) from interacting gene networks could serve to uncover generic scaling properties of these ubiquitous phenomena. RESULTS Here, we combine synthetic biology, statistical mechanics models, and computational simulations to study the spatial behavior of synthetic gene networks (SGNs) in Escherichia coli quasi-2D colonies growing on hard agar surfaces. Guided by the combined mechanisms of the contact process lattice simulation and two-dimensional Ising model (CPIM), we describe the spatial behavior of bi-stable and chemically coupled SGNs that self-organize into patterns of long-range correlations with power-law scaling or short-range anti-correlations. These patterns, resembling ferromagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic configurations of the Ising model near critical points, maintain their scaling properties upon changes in growth rate and cell shape. CONCLUSIONS Our findings shed light on the spatial biology of coupled and bistable gene networks in growing cell populations. This emergent spatial behavior could provide insights into the study and engineering of self-organizing gene patterns in eukaryotic tissues and bacterial consortia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Simpson
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
| | - Alfredo L'Homme
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Keymer
- Institute for Advanced Studies, Shenzhen X-Institute, Shenzhen, China.
- Schools of Physics and Biology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
- Department of Natural Sciences and Technology, Universidad de Aysén, Coyhaique, Chile.
| | - Fernán Federici
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile.
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation - Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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29
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Datta D, Weiss EL, Wangpraseurt D, Hild E, Chen S, Golden JW, Golden SS, Pokorski JK. Phenotypically complex living materials containing engineered cyanobacteria. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4742. [PMID: 37550278 PMCID: PMC10406891 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40265-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The field of engineered living materials lies at the intersection of materials science and synthetic biology with the aim of developing materials that can sense and respond to the environment. In this study, we use 3D printing to fabricate a cyanobacterial biocomposite material capable of producing multiple functional outputs in response to an external chemical stimulus and demonstrate the advantages of utilizing additive manufacturing techniques in controlling the shape of the fabricated photosynthetic material. As an initial proof-of-concept, a synthetic riboswitch is used to regulate the expression of a yellow fluorescent protein reporter in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 within a hydrogel matrix. Subsequently, a strain of S. elongatus is engineered to produce an oxidative laccase enzyme; when printed within a hydrogel matrix the responsive biomaterial can decolorize a common textile dye pollutant, indigo carmine, potentially serving as a tool in environmental bioremediation. Finally, cells are engineered for inducible cell death to eliminate their presence once their activity is no longer required, which is an important function for biocontainment and minimizing environmental impact. By integrating genetically engineered stimuli-responsive cyanobacteria in volumetric 3D-printed designs, we demonstrate programmable photosynthetic biocomposite materials capable of producing functional outputs including, but not limited to, bioremediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debika Datta
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Elliot L Weiss
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Wangpraseurt
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Erica Hild
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Shaochen Chen
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - James W Golden
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Susan S Golden
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Jonathan K Pokorski
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering and Institute for Materials Discovery and Design, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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30
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Kawada M, Jo H, Medina AM, Sim S. Catalytic Materials Enabled by a Programmable Assembly of Synthetic Polymers and Engineered Bacterial Spores. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:16210-16217. [PMID: 37458997 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c05153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Natural biological materials are formed by self-assembly processes and catalyze a myriad of reactions. Here, we report a programmable molecular assembly of designed synthetic polymers with engineered bacterial spores. This self-assembly process is driven by dynamic covalent bond formation on spore surface glycan and yields macroscopic materials that are structurally stable, self-healing, and recyclable. Molecular programming of polymer species shapes the physical properties of these materials while metabolically dormant spores allow for prolonged ambient storage. Incorporation of spores with genetically encoded functionalities enables operationally simple and repeated enzymatic catalysis. Our work combines molecular and genetic engineering to offer scalable and programmable synthesis of robust materials for sustainable biocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masamu Kawada
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Hyuna Jo
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Alexis M Medina
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Seunghyun Sim
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Center for Complex and Active Materials, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
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31
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Bressler EM, Adams S, Liu R, Colson YL, Wong WW, Grinstaff MW. Boolean logic in synthetic biology and biomaterials: Towards living materials in mammalian cell therapeutics. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1244. [PMID: 37386762 PMCID: PMC10310979 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The intersection of synthetic biology and biomaterials promises to enhance safety and efficacy in novel therapeutics. Both fields increasingly employ Boolean logic, which allows for specific therapeutic outputs (e.g., drug release, peptide synthesis) in response to inputs such as disease markers or bio-orthogonal stimuli. Examples include stimuli-responsive drug delivery devices and logic-gated chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. In this review, we explore recent manuscripts highlighting the potential of synthetic biology and biomaterials with Boolean logic to create novel and efficacious living therapeutics. MAIN BODY Collaborations in synthetic biology and biomaterials have led to significant advancements in drug delivery and cell therapy. Borrowing from synthetic biology, researchers have created Boolean-responsive biomaterials sensitive to multiple inputs including pH, light, enzymes and more to produce functional outputs such as degradation, gel-sol transition and conformational change. Biomaterials also enhance synthetic biology, particularly CAR T and adoptive T cell therapy, by modulating therapeutic immune cells in vivo. Nanoparticles and hydrogels also enable in situ generation of CAR T cells, which promises to drive down production costs and expand access to these therapies to a larger population. Biomaterials are also used to interface with logic-gated CAR T cell therapies, creating controllable cellular therapies that enhance safety and efficacy. Finally, designer cells acting as living therapeutic factories benefit from biomaterials that improve biocompatibility and stability in vivo. CONCLUSION By using Boolean logic in both cellular therapy and drug delivery devices, researchers have achieved better safety and efficacy outcomes. While early projects show incredible promise, coordination between these fields is ongoing and growing. We expect that these collaborations will continue to grow and realize the next generation of living biomaterial therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M. Bressler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biological Design CenterBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Sarah Adams
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biological Design CenterBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Rong Liu
- Division of Thoracic SurgeryDepartment of SurgeryMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Yolonda L. Colson
- Division of Thoracic SurgeryDepartment of SurgeryMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Wilson W. Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biological Design CenterBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Mark W. Grinstaff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biological Design CenterBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Biomedical EngineeringBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Sherry A, Dell’Agnese BM, Scott J. Biohybrids: Textile fibres provide scaffolds and highways for microbial translocation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1188965. [PMID: 37383521 PMCID: PMC10293675 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1188965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Living materials (biohybrids, textile-microbial hybrids, hybrid living materials) have gained much attention in recent years with enormous potential for applications in biomedical science, the built environment, construction and architecture, drug delivery and as environmental biosensors. Living materials contain matrices which incorporate microorganisms or biomolecules as the bioactive components. A cross-disciplinary approach, operating at the intersection of creative practice and scientific research, incorporated textile technology and microbiology to demonstrate textile fibres providing microbial scaffolds and highways during this study. Methods: The study evolved from previous research which showed bacteria utilising the water layer surrounding fungal mycelium for motility, termed the 'fungal highway', which led to the investigation of the directional dispersal of microbes across a range of fibre types (natural and synthetic). The application of the study centred around the potential for biohybrids to be used as a biotechnology to improve oil bioremediation through seeding of hydrocarbon-degrading microbes into polluted environments via fungal or fibre highways, therefore treatments in the presence of crude oil were tested. Furthermore, from a design perspective, textiles have huge potential to act as a conduit for water and nutrients, essential to sustain microorganisms within living materials. Using the moisture absorption properties of natural fibres, the research explored how to engineer variable liquid absorption rates using cellulosics and wool to produce shape-changing knitted fabrics suitable for adaptation to oil spill capture. Results: At a cellular scale, confocal microscopy provided evidence to show that bacteria were able to utilise a water layer surrounding the fibres, supporting the hypothesis that fibres can aid bacterial translocation through their use as 'fibre highways'. A motile bacterial culture, Pseudomonas putida, was shown to translocate around a liquid layer surrounding polyester, nylon, and linen fibres, yet no evidence of translocation was apparent on silk or wool fibres, suggesting microbes elicit different responses to specific fibre types. Findings showed that translocation activity around highways did not diminish in the presence of crude oil, known to contain an abundance of toxic compounds, in comparison to oil-free controls. A design series demonstrated the growth of fungal mycelium (Pleurotus ostreatus) through knitted structures, highlighting the ability for natural fabrics to provide a scaffold to support microbial communities whilst retaining the ability to undergo environmentally responsive shape-change. A final prototype, Ebb&Flow, demonstrated the potential to scale up the responsive capacities of the material system using locally produced UK wool. The prototype conceptualised both the uptake of a hydrocarbon pollutant by fibres, and the translocation of microbes along fibre highways. Discussion: The research works towards facilitating the translation of fundamental science and design into biotechnological solutions that can be used in real world applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Sherry
- Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Bruna Martins Dell’Agnese
- Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jane Scott
- Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, School of Architecture Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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33
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Yan X, Liu X, Zhao C, Chen GQ. Applications of synthetic biology in medical and pharmaceutical fields. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:199. [PMID: 37169742 PMCID: PMC10173249 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01440-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology aims to design or assemble existing bioparts or bio-components for useful bioproperties. During the past decades, progresses have been made to build delicate biocircuits, standardized biological building blocks and to develop various genomic/metabolic engineering tools and approaches. Medical and pharmaceutical demands have also pushed the development of synthetic biology, including integration of heterologous pathways into designer cells to efficiently produce medical agents, enhanced yields of natural products in cell growth media to equal or higher than that of the extracts from plants or fungi, constructions of novel genetic circuits for tumor targeting, controllable releases of therapeutic agents in response to specific biomarkers to fight diseases such as diabetes and cancers. Besides, new strategies are developed to treat complex immune diseases, infectious diseases and metabolic disorders that are hard to cure via traditional approaches. In general, synthetic biology brings new capabilities to medical and pharmaceutical researches. This review summarizes the timeline of synthetic biology developments, the past and present of synthetic biology for microbial productions of pharmaceutics, engineered cells equipped with synthetic DNA circuits for diagnosis and therapies, live and auto-assemblied biomaterials for medical treatments, cell-free synthetic biology in medical and pharmaceutical fields, and DNA engineering approaches with potentials for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Yan
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Liu
- PhaBuilder Biotech Co. Ltd., Shunyi District, Zhaoquan Ying, 101309, Beijing, China
| | - Cuihuan Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Guo-Qiang Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
- Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
- MOE Key Lab for Industrial Biocatalysis, Dept Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
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Caamal-Herrera I, Erreguin-Isaguirre MB, León-Buitimea A, Morones-Ramírez JR. Synthesis and Design of a Synthetic-Living Material Composed of Chitosan, Calendula officinalis Hydroalcoholic Extract, and Yeast with Applications as a Biocatalyst. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:12716-12729. [PMID: 37065078 PMCID: PMC10099135 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c07847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Design and development of materials that couple synthetic and living components allow taking advantage of the complexity of biological systems within a controlled environment. However, their design and fabrication represent a challenge for material scientists since it is necessary to synthesize synthetic materials with highly specialized biocompatible and physicochemical properties. The design of synthetic-living materials (vita materials) requires materials capable of hosting cell ingrowth and maintaining cell viability for extended periods. Vita materials offer various advantages, from simplifying product purification steps to controlling cell metabolic activity and improving the resistance of biological systems to external stress factors, translating into reducing bioprocess costs and diversifying their industrial applications. Here, chitosan sponges, functionalized with Calendula officinalis hydroalcoholic extract, were synthesized using the freeze-drying method; they showed small pore sizes (7.58 μm), high porosity (97.95%), high water absorption (1695%), and thermal stability, which allows the material to withstand sterilization conditions. The sponges allowed integration of 58.34% of viable Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, and the cell viability was conserved 12 h post-process (57.14%) under storage conditions [refrigerating temperature (4 °C) and without a nutrient supply]. In addition, the synthesized vita materials conserved their biocatalytic activity after 7 days of the integration process, which was evaluated through glucose consumption and ethanol production. The results in this paper describe the synthesis of complex vita materials and demonstrate that biochemically modified chitosan sponges can be used as a platform material to host living and metabolically active yeast with diverse applications as biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel
O. Caamal-Herrera
- School
of Chemistry, Autonomous University of Nuevo
Leon (UANL), San Nicolas de los
Garza, Nuevo Leon 66455, Mexico
- Applied
Microbiology Department, NanoBiotechnology Research Group, Research
Center on Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, School of Chemical Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, PIIT, Km 10 Autopista al Aeropuerto Mariano
Escobedo, Apodaca, Nuevo
Leon 66629, Mexico
| | - Mariana B. Erreguin-Isaguirre
- School
of Chemical Engineering Pharmaceutics, Technological
University of San Juan del Rio, Av. La Palma No. 125, Col. Vista Hermosa, San Juan del Rio, Queretaro 76800, Mexico
| | - Angel León-Buitimea
- School
of Chemistry, Autonomous University of Nuevo
Leon (UANL), San Nicolas de los
Garza, Nuevo Leon 66455, Mexico
- Applied
Microbiology Department, NanoBiotechnology Research Group, Research
Center on Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, School of Chemical Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, PIIT, Km 10 Autopista al Aeropuerto Mariano
Escobedo, Apodaca, Nuevo
Leon 66629, Mexico
| | - José R. Morones-Ramírez
- School
of Chemistry, Autonomous University of Nuevo
Leon (UANL), San Nicolas de los
Garza, Nuevo Leon 66455, Mexico
- Applied
Microbiology Department, NanoBiotechnology Research Group, Research
Center on Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, School of Chemical Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, PIIT, Km 10 Autopista al Aeropuerto Mariano
Escobedo, Apodaca, Nuevo
Leon 66629, Mexico
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35
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Wu D, Lei J, Zhang Z, Huang F, Buljan M, Yu G. Polymerization in living organisms. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:2911-2945. [PMID: 36987988 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00759b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Vital biomacromolecules, such as RNA, DNA, polysaccharides and proteins, are synthesized inside cells via the polymerization of small biomolecules to support and multiply life. The study of polymerization reactions in living organisms is an emerging field in which the high diversity and efficiency of chemistry as well as the flexibility and ingeniousness of physiological environment are incisively and vividly embodied. Efforts have been made to design and develop in situ intra/extracellular polymerization reactions. Many important research areas, including cell surface engineering, biocompatible polymerization, cell behavior regulation, living cell imaging, targeted bacteriostasis and precise tumor therapy, have witnessed the elegant demeanour of polymerization reactions in living organisms. In this review, recent advances in polymerization in living organisms are summarized and presented according to different polymerization methods. The inspiration from biomacromolecule synthesis in nature highlights the feasibility and uniqueness of triggering living polymerization for cell-based biological applications. A series of examples of polymerization reactions in living organisms are discussed, along with their designs, mechanisms of action, and corresponding applications. The current challenges and prospects in this lifeful field are also proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China
| | - Jiaqi Lei
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Zhankui Zhang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China
| | - Feihe Huang
- Stoddart Institute of Molecular Science, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P. R. China.
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, 311215, P. R. China
| | - Marija Buljan
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Guocan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
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36
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Ho G, Kubušová V, Irabien C, Li V, Weinstein A, Chawla S, Yeung D, Mershin A, Zolotovsky K, Mogas-Soldevila L. Multiscale design of cell-free biologically active architectural structures. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1125156. [PMID: 37064226 PMCID: PMC10100494 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1125156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein expression systems are here combined with 3D-printed structures to study the challenges and opportunities as biofabrication enters the spaces of architecture and design. Harnessing large-scale additive manufacturing of biological materials, we examined the addition of cell-free protein expression systems ("TXTL" i.e., biological transcription-translation machinery without the use of living cells) to printed structures. This allowed us to consider programmable, living-like, responsive systems for product design and indoor architectural applications. This emergent, pluripotent technology offers exciting potential in support of health, resource optimization, and reduction of energy use in the built environment, setting a new path to interactivity with mechanical, optical, and (bio) chemical properties throughout structures. We propose a roadmap towards creating healthier, functional and more durable systems by deploying a multiscale platform containing biologically-active components encapsulated within biopolymer lattices operating at three design scales: (i) supporting cell-free protein expression in a biopolymer matrix (microscale), (ii) varying material properties of porosity and strength within two-dimensional lattices to support biological and structural functions (mesoscale), and (iii) obtaining folded indoor surfaces that are structurally sound at the meter scale and biologically active (we label that regime macroscale). We embedded commercially available cell-free protein expression systems within silk fibroin and sodium alginate biopolymer matrices and used green fluorescent protein as the reporter to confirm their compatibility. We demonstrate mechanical attachment of freeze-dried bioactive pellets into printed foldable fibrous biopolymer lattices showing the first steps towards modular multiscale fabrication of large structures with biologically active zones. Our results discuss challenges to experimental setup affecting expression levels and show the potential of robust cell-free protein-expressing biosites within custom-printed structures at scales relevant to everyday consumer products and human habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Ho
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - V. Kubušová
- Department of Graduate Architecture, DumoLab Research, Stuart Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Architecture and Design, Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - C. Irabien
- Department of Graduate Architecture, DumoLab Research, Stuart Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - V. Li
- Department of Graduate Architecture, DumoLab Research, Stuart Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - A. Weinstein
- Department of Graduate Architecture, DumoLab Research, Stuart Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sh. Chawla
- Department of Graduate Architecture, DumoLab Research, Stuart Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - D. Yeung
- Department of Graduate Architecture, DumoLab Research, Stuart Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - A. Mershin
- Label Free Research Group, Center for Bits and Atoms, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - K. Zolotovsky
- Spatial Dynamics Program, Division of Experimental and Foundational Studies, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI, United States
| | - L. Mogas-Soldevila
- Department of Graduate Architecture, DumoLab Research, Stuart Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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37
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Yang Y, Wang J, Chen M, Li N, Yan J, Wang X. Self-forming electroactive dynamic membrane for enhancing the decolorization of methyl orange by weak electrical stimulation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 863:160897. [PMID: 36521609 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
An electroactive dynamic membrane (EADM), which enabled simultaneous solid-liquid separation and contaminants removal, has been developed by electrostimulation using domestic wastewater as inoculum. Results showed that both the control dynamic membrane (CDM), without electrical stimulation, and the EADM systems exhibited stable removal performance with chemical oxygen demand (COD), and a robustness in responding to a fluctuating organic load. With the introduction of a weak electrical field, the EADM transmembrane pressure (TMP) was significantly reduced (0.02 kPa/d) compared with the control (0.20 kPa/d). In the treatment of methyl orange (MO), the EADM system achieved a decolorization efficiency of 85.87 %, much higher than the control dynamic membrane (CDM) system (58.84 %), which can be attributed to electrical stimulation and H2 production on cathode. Microbial analysis has established that electrostimulation enriched the electroactive bacteria in the dynamic biofilm, and shaped the microbial structure, with improved contaminant removal. The results of this study highlight the potential of regulating the microbial community and creating a beneficial biofilm as a dynamic layer to facilitate contaminant removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jinning Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Mei Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Nan Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, No. 35 Yaguan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jiaguo Yan
- Division of Oilfield Chemicals, China Oilfield Services Limited, No. 1581, Haichuan Road, Binhai New District, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
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38
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An B, Wang Y, Huang Y, Wang X, Liu Y, Xun D, Church GM, Dai Z, Yi X, Tang TC, Zhong C. Engineered Living Materials For Sustainability. Chem Rev 2023; 123:2349-2419. [PMID: 36512650 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in synthetic biology and materials science have given rise to a new form of materials, namely engineered living materials (ELMs), which are composed of living matter or cell communities embedded in self-regenerating matrices of their own or artificial scaffolds. Like natural materials such as bone, wood, and skin, ELMs, which possess the functional capabilities of living organisms, can grow, self-organize, and self-repair when needed. They also spontaneously perform programmed biological functions upon sensing external cues. Currently, ELMs show promise for green energy production, bioremediation, disease treatment, and fabricating advanced smart materials. This review first introduces the dynamic features of natural living systems and their potential for developing novel materials. We then summarize the recent research progress on living materials and emerging design strategies from both synthetic biology and materials science perspectives. Finally, we discuss the positive impacts of living materials on promoting sustainability and key future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bolin An
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yanyi Wang
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuanyuan Huang
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuzhu Liu
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Dongmin Xun
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - George M Church
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston 02115, Massachusetts United States.,Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, Massachusetts United States
| | - Zhuojun Dai
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xiao Yi
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Tzu-Chieh Tang
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston 02115, Massachusetts United States.,Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, Massachusetts United States
| | - Chao Zhong
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
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39
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Wu D, Baresch D, Cook C, Ma Z, Duan M, Malounda D, Maresca D, Abundo MP, Lee J, Shivaei S, Mittelstein DR, Qiu T, Fischer P, Shapiro MG. Biomolecular actuators for genetically selective acoustic manipulation of cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd9186. [PMID: 36812320 PMCID: PMC9946353 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add9186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The ability to physically manipulate specific cells is critical for the fields of biomedicine, synthetic biology, and living materials. Ultrasound has the ability to manipulate cells with high spatiotemporal precision via acoustic radiation force (ARF). However, because most cells have similar acoustic properties, this capability is disconnected from cellular genetic programs. Here, we show that gas vesicles (GVs)-a unique class of gas-filled protein nanostructures-can serve as genetically encodable actuators for selective acoustic manipulation. Because of their lower density and higher compressibility relative to water, GVs experience strong ARF with opposite polarity to most other materials. When expressed inside cells, GVs invert the cells' acoustic contrast and amplify the magnitude of their ARF, allowing the cells to be selectively manipulated with sound waves based on their genotype. GVs provide a direct link between gene expression and acoustomechanical actuation, opening a paradigm for selective cellular control in a broad range of contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Diego Baresch
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, I2M, UMR 5295, F-33400 Talence, France
| | - Colin Cook
- Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Zhichao Ma
- Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstr. 3, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Mengtong Duan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Dina Malounda
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - David Maresca
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Maria P. Abundo
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Justin Lee
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Shirin Shivaei
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - David R. Mittelstein
- Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Tian Qiu
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Peer Fischer
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials, Heidelberg University, INF 225, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mikhail G. Shapiro
- Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
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40
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Coskuner-Weber O, Yuce-Erarslan E, Uversky VN. Paving the Way for Synthetic Intrinsically Disordered Polymers for Soft Robotics. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15030763. [PMID: 36772065 PMCID: PMC9919048 DOI: 10.3390/polym15030763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Nature is full of examples of processes that, through evolution, have been perfected over the ages to effectively use matter and sustain life. Here, we present our strategies for designing intrinsically disordered smart polymers for soft robotics applications that are bio-inspired by intrinsically disordered proteins. Bio-inspired intrinsically disordered smart and soft polymers designed using our deep understanding of intrinsically disordered proteins have the potential to open new avenues in soft robotics. Together with other desirable traits, such as robustness, dynamic self-organization, and self-healing abilities, these systems possess ideal characteristics that human-made formations strive for but often fail to achieve. Our main aim is to develop materials for soft robotics applications bio-inspired by intrinsically disordered proteins to address what we see as the largest current barriers in the practical deployment of future soft robotics in various areas, including defense. Much of the current literature has focused on the de novo synthesis of tailor-made polymers to perform specific functions. With bio-inspired polymers, the complexity of protein folding mechanisms has limited the ability of researchers to reliably engineer specific structures. Unlike existing studies, our work is focused on utilizing the high flexibility of intrinsically disordered proteins and their self-organization characteristics using synthetic quasi-foldamers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orkid Coskuner-Weber
- Molecular Biotechnology, Turkish-German University, Sahinkaya Caddesi, No. 106, Beykoz, Istanbul 34820, Turkey
- Correspondence:
| | - Elif Yuce-Erarslan
- Chemical Engineering, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcılar, Istanbul 34320, Turkey
| | - Vladimir N. Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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41
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Chen Y, Li ZH, Zeng X, Zhang XZ. Bacteria-based bioactive materials for cancer imaging and therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 193:114696. [PMID: 36632868 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Owing to the unique biological functions, bacteria as biological materials have been widely used in biomedical field. With advances in biotechnology and nanotechnology, various bacteria-based bioactive materials were developed for cancer imaging and therapy. In this review, different types of bacteria-based bioactive materials and their construction strategies were summarized. The advantages and property-function relationship of bacteria-based bioactive materials were described. Representative researches of bacteria-based bioactive materials in cancer imaging and therapy were illustrated, revealing general ideas for their construction. Also, limitation and challenges of bacteria-based bioactive materials in cancer research were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education & Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Zi-Hao Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education & Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Xuan Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education & Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China
| | - Xian-Zheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education & Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China; Wuhan Research Centre for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, PR China.
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42
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Binelli MR, Kan A, Rozas LEA, Pisaturo G, Prakash N, Studart AR. Complex Living Materials Made by Light-Based Printing of Genetically Programmed Bacteria. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2207483. [PMID: 36444840 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202207483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Living materials with embedded microorganisms can genetically encode attractive sensing, self-repairing, and responsive functionalities for applications in medicine, robotics, and infrastructure. While the synthetic toolbox for genetically engineering bacteria continues to expand, technologies to shape bacteria-laden living materials into complex 3D geometries are still rather limited. Here, it is shown that bacteria-laden hydrogels can be shaped into living materials with unusual architectures and functionalities using readily available light-based printing techniques. Bioluminescent and melanin-producing bacteria are used to create complex materials with autonomous chemical-sensing capabilities by harnessing the metabolic activity of wild-type and engineered microorganisms. The shaping freedom offered by printing technologies and the rich biochemical diversity available in bacteria provides ample design space for the creation and exploration of complex living materials with programmable functionalities for a broad range of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco R Binelli
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Anton Kan
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Luis E A Rozas
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni Pisaturo
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Namita Prakash
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - André R Studart
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland
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43
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Sabio L, Dominguez-Vera JM, de Vicente J, Delgado-López JM. Living Cellulose Materials with Tunable Viscoelasticity through Probiotic Proliferation. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023; 6:157-163. [PMID: 36520018 PMCID: PMC9846690 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Probiotic cellulose (PC), a living material (LM) consisting of probiotics integrated into bacterial cellulose, is the first example where life (probiotic proliferation) is the input to tune the viscoelasticity of the biomaterial. The gradual proliferation of probiotics within the matrix acts as a key modulator of the cellulose viscoelasticity, providing from celluloses with lower-than-matrix viscoelasticity to celluloses with viscoelastic moduli closer to those of elastic solids. This concept is a promising approach to producing living bio-ink with tunable viscoelastic response of special interest for specific applications such as 3D printing. In contrast to the most common hydrogels with stimuli-tunable mechanical properties, which require external stimuli such as mechanical stress, UV radiation, or heat, this living bio-ink only requires time to tune from a fluid-like into a solid-like biomaterial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sabio
- Department
of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Av. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Jose M. Dominguez-Vera
- Department
of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Av. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Juan de Vicente
- F2N2Lab,
Magnetic Soft Matter Group and Excellence Research Unit ‘Modeling
Nature’ (MNat), Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Av. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - José M. Delgado-López
- Department
of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Av. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
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44
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Li F, Li Y, Novoselov KS, Liang F, Meng J, Ho SH, Zhao T, Zhou H, Ahmad A, Zhu Y, Hu L, Ji D, Jia L, Liu R, Ramakrishna S, Zhang X. Bioresource Upgrade for Sustainable Energy, Environment, and Biomedicine. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2023; 15:35. [PMID: 36629933 PMCID: PMC9833044 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-022-00993-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We conceptualize bioresource upgrade for sustainable energy, environment, and biomedicine with a focus on circular economy, sustainability, and carbon neutrality using high availability and low utilization biomass (HALUB). We acme energy-efficient technologies for sustainable energy and material recovery and applications. The technologies of thermochemical conversion (TC), biochemical conversion (BC), electrochemical conversion (EC), and photochemical conversion (PTC) are summarized for HALUB. Microalgal biomass could contribute to a biofuel HHV of 35.72 MJ Kg-1 and total benefit of 749 $/ton biomass via TC. Specific surface area of biochar reached 3000 m2 g-1 via pyrolytic carbonization of waste bean dregs. Lignocellulosic biomass can be effectively converted into bio-stimulants and biofertilizers via BC with a high conversion efficiency of more than 90%. Besides, lignocellulosic biomass can contribute to a current density of 672 mA m-2 via EC. Bioresource can be 100% selectively synthesized via electrocatalysis through EC and PTC. Machine learning, techno-economic analysis, and life cycle analysis are essential to various upgrading approaches of HALUB. Sustainable biomaterials, sustainable living materials and technologies for biomedical and multifunctional applications like nano-catalysis, microfluidic and micro/nanomotors beyond are also highlighted. New techniques and systems for the complete conversion and utilization of HALUB for new energy and materials are further discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanghua Li
- Center for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119260, Singapore
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiwei Li
- School of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- John A Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics - Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, People's Republic of China
| | - K S Novoselov
- Centre for Advanced 2D Materials, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
- School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Feng Liang
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Jiashen Meng
- School of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Shih-Hsin Ho
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, People's Republic of China
| | - Tong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhou
- Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Awais Ahmad
- Departamento de Quimica Organica, Universidad de Cordoba, Edificio Marie Curie (C-3), Ctra Nnal IV-A, Km 396, 14014, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Yinlong Zhu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Liangxing Hu
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Dongxiao Ji
- Center for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119260, Singapore
| | - Litao Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, People's Republic of China
| | - Seeram Ramakrishna
- Center for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119260, Singapore
| | - Xingcai Zhang
- John A Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
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45
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Shabani L, Abbasi M, Azarnew Z, Amani AM, Vaez A. Neuro-nanotechnology: diagnostic and therapeutic nano-based strategies in applied neuroscience. Biomed Eng Online 2023; 22:1. [PMID: 36593487 PMCID: PMC9809121 DOI: 10.1186/s12938-022-01062-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial, de-novo manufactured materials (with controlled nano-sized characteristics) have been progressively used by neuroscientists during the last several decades. The introduction of novel implantable bioelectronics interfaces that are better suited to their biological targets is one example of an innovation that has emerged as a result of advanced nanostructures and implantable bioelectronics interfaces, which has increased the potential of prostheses and neural interfaces. The unique physical-chemical properties of nanoparticles have also facilitated the development of novel imaging instruments for advanced laboratory systems, as well as intelligently manufactured scaffolds and microelectrodes and other technologies designed to increase our understanding of neural tissue processes. The incorporation of nanotechnology into physiology and cell biology enables the tailoring of molecular interactions. This involves unique interactions with neurons and glial cells in neuroscience. Technology solutions intended to effectively interact with neuronal cells, improved molecular-based diagnostic techniques, biomaterials and hybridized compounds utilized for neural regeneration, neuroprotection, and targeted delivery of medicines as well as small chemicals across the blood-brain barrier are all purposes of the present article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leili Shabani
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Namazi Teaching Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Milad Abbasi
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Zeynab Azarnew
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Mohammad Amani
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Vaez
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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46
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Fan X, Wang K, Lu Q, Lu Y, Sun J. Cell-Based Drug Delivery Systems Participate in the Cancer Immunity Cycle for Improved Cancer Immunotherapy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2205166. [PMID: 36437050 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202205166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy aims to activate the cancer patient's immune system for cancer therapy. The whole process of the immune system against cancer referred to as the "cancer immunity cycle", gives insight into how drugs can be designed to affect every step of the anticancer immune response. Cancer immunotherapy such as immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, cancer vaccines, as well as small molecule modulators has been applied to fight various cancers. However, the effect of immunotherapy in clinical applications is still unsatisfactory due to the limited response rate and immune-related adverse events. Mounting evidence suggests that cell-based drug delivery systems (DDSs) with low immunogenicity, superior targeting, and prolonged circulation have great potential to improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, with the rapid development of cell-based DDSs, understanding their important roles in various stages of the cancer immunity cycle guides the better design of cell-based cancer immunotherapy. Herein, an overview of how cell-based DDSs participate in cancer immunotherapy at various stages is presented and an outlook on possible challenges of clinical translation and application in future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyuan Fan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, China
| | - Kaiyuan Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, China
| | - Qi Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, China
| | - Yutong Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, China
| | - Jin Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, China
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47
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Self-regenerating living material made of printed fungi. NATURE MATERIALS 2023; 22:16-17. [PMID: 36550375 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-022-01430-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
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48
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Gantenbein S, Colucci E, Käch J, Trachsel E, Coulter FB, Rühs PA, Masania K, Studart AR. Three-dimensional printing of mycelium hydrogels into living complex materials. NATURE MATERIALS 2023; 22:128-134. [PMID: 36550372 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-022-01429-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Biological living materials, such as animal bones and plant stems, are able to self-heal, regenerate, adapt and make decisions under environmental pressures. Despite recent successful efforts to imbue synthetic materials with some of these remarkable functionalities, many emerging properties of complex adaptive systems found in biology remain unexplored in engineered living materials. Here, we describe a three-dimensional printing approach that harnesses the emerging properties of fungal mycelia to create living complex materials that self-repair, regenerate and adapt to the environment while fulfilling an engineering function. Hydrogels loaded with the fungus Ganoderma lucidum are three-dimensionally printed into lattice architectures to enable mycelial growth in a balanced exploration and exploitation pattern that simultaneously promotes colonization of the gel and bridging of air gaps. To illustrate the potential of such mycelium-based living complex materials, we three-dimensionally print a robotic skin that is mechanically robust, self-cleaning and able to autonomously regenerate after damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvan Gantenbein
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Emanuele Colucci
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Julian Käch
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Etienne Trachsel
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Fergal B Coulter
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick A Rühs
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kunal Masania
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Shaping Matter Lab, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands.
| | - André R Studart
- Complex Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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49
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Tao M, Jin C, Lu H, Jin K, Yu L, Liu J, Zhang J, Zhu X, Wu Y. Living and Regenerative Material Encapsulating Self-Assembled Shewanella oneidensis-CdS Hybrids for Photocatalytic Biodegradation of Organic Dyes. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122501. [PMID: 36557754 PMCID: PMC9781410 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Reductive biodegradation by microorganisms has been widely explored for detoxifying recalcitrant contaminants; however, the biodegradation capacity of microbes is limited by the energy level of the released electrons. Here, we developed a method to self-assemble Shewanella oneidensis-CdS nanoparticle hybrids with significantly improved reductive biodegradation capacity and constructed a living material by encapsulating the hybrids in hydrogels. The material confines the nano-bacteria hybrids and protects them from environmental stress, thus improving their recyclability and long-term stability (degradation capacity unhindered after 4 weeks). The developed living materials exhibited efficient photocatalytic biodegradation of various organic dyes including azo and nitroso dyes. This study highlights the feasibility and benefits of constructing self-assembled nano-bacteria hybrids for bioremediation and sets the stage for the development of novel living materials from nano-bacteria hybrids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Tao
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Chenyang Jin
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Hongfei Lu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Kai Jin
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Lin Yu
- Medical School, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jinliang Liu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200433, China
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (Y.W.)
| | - Yihan Wu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200433, China
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (Y.W.)
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50
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Vignali V, Hines PA, Cruz AG, Ziętek B, Herold R. Health horizons: Future trends and technologies from the European Medicines Agency's horizon scanning collaborations. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1064003. [PMID: 36569125 PMCID: PMC9772004 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1064003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In medicines development, the progress in science and technology is accelerating. Awareness of these developments and their associated challenges and opportunities is essential for medicines regulators and others to translate them into benefits for society. In this context, the European Medicines Agency uses horizon scanning to shine a light on early signals of relevant innovation and technological trends with impact on medicinal products. This article provides the results of systematic horizon scanning exercises conducted by the Agency, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre's (DG JRC). These collaborative exercises aim to inform policy-makers of new trends and increase preparedness in responding to them. A subset of 25 technological trends, divided into three clusters were selected and reviewed from the perspective of medicines regulators. For each of these trends, the expected impact and challenges for their adoption are discussed, along with recommendations for developers, regulators and policy makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Vignali
- European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, Netherlands,Department of Biomedical Engineering, W.J. Kolff Institute, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Philip A. Hines
- European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, Netherlands,Faculty of Health Medicines and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Philip A. Hines,
| | | | | | - Ralf Herold
- European Medicines Agency, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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