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Kelly AR, Glover DJ. Information Transmission through Biotic-Abiotic Interfaces to Restore or Enhance Human Function. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024. [PMID: 38729914 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00435] [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: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Advancements in reliable information transfer across biotic-abiotic interfaces have enabled the restoration of lost human function. For example, communication between neuronal cells and electrical devices restores the ability to walk to a tetraplegic patient and vision to patients blinded by retinal disease. These impactful medical achievements are aided by tailored biotic-abiotic interfaces that maximize information transfer fidelity by considering the physical properties of the underlying biological and synthetic components. This Review develops a modular framework to define and describe the engineering of biotic and abiotic components as well as the design of interfaces to facilitate biotic-abiotic information transfer using light or electricity. Delineating the properties of the biotic, interface, and abiotic components that enable communication can serve as a guide for future research in this highly interdisciplinary field. Application of synthetic biology to engineer light-sensitive proteins has facilitated the control of neural signaling and the restoration of rudimentary vision after retinal blindness. Electrophysiological methodologies that use brain-computer interfaces and stimulating implants to bypass spinal column injuries have led to the rehabilitation of limb movement and walking ability. Cellular interfacing methodologies and on-chip learning capability have been made possible by organic transistors that mimic the information processing capacity of neurons. The collaboration of molecular biologists, material scientists, and electrical engineers in the emerging field of biotic-abiotic interfacing will lead to the development of prosthetics capable of responding to thought and experiencing touch sensation via direct integration into the human nervous system. Further interdisciplinary research will improve electrical and optical interfacing technologies for the restoration of vision, offering greater visual acuity and potentially color vision in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander R Kelly
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Dominic J Glover
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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Zakaria FR, Chen CY, Li J, Wang S, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Redox active plant phenolic, acetosyringone, for electrogenetic signaling. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9666. [PMID: 38671069 PMCID: PMC11053109 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60191-7] [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: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Redox is a unique, programmable modality capable of bridging communication between biology and electronics. Previous studies have shown that the E. coli redox-responsive OxyRS regulon can be re-wired to accept electrochemically generated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an inducer of gene expression. Here we report that the redox-active phenolic plant signaling molecule acetosyringone (AS) can also induce gene expression from the OxyRS regulon. AS must be oxidized, however, as the reduced state present under normal conditions cannot induce gene expression. Thus, AS serves as a "pro-signaling molecule" that can be activated by its oxidation-in our case by application of oxidizing potential to an electrode. We show that the OxyRS regulon is not induced electrochemically if the imposed electrode potential is in the mid-physiological range. Electronically sliding the applied potential to either oxidative or reductive extremes induces this regulon but through different mechanisms: reduction of O2 to form H2O2 or oxidation of AS. Fundamentally, this work reinforces the emerging concept that redox signaling depends more on molecular activities than molecular structure. From an applications perspective, the creation of an electronically programmed "pro-signal" dramatically expands the toolbox for electronic control of biological responses in microbes, including in complex environments, cell-based materials, and biomanufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fauziah Rahma Zakaria
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Chen
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Jinyang Li
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Sally Wang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA.
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA.
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
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Wang S, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Quorum sensing componentry opens new lines of communication. EMBO J 2022; 41:e112162. [PMID: 35971916 PMCID: PMC9475535 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoinducer-2 is a key molecule for bacterial quorum sensing. New exporter structures may now help narrow the gap between biology and engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Wang
- Fischell Department of BioengineeringUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMDUSA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical DevicesUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMDUSA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology ResearchUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMDUSA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Fischell Department of BioengineeringUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMDUSA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical DevicesUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMDUSA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology ResearchUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMDUSA
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of BioengineeringUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMDUSA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical DevicesUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMDUSA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology ResearchUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMDUSA
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Network-Based Redox Communication Between Abiotic Interactive Materials. iScience 2022; 25:104548. [PMID: 35747390 PMCID: PMC9209720 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent observations that abiotic materials can engage in redox-based interactive communication motivates the search for new redox-active materials. Here we fabricated a hydrogel from a four-armed thiolated polyethylene glycol (PEG-SH) and the bacterial metabolite, pyocyanin (PYO). We show that: (i) the PYO-PEG hydrogel is reversibly redox-active; (ii) the molecular-switching and directed electron flow within this PYO-PEG hydrogel requires both a thermodynamic driving force (i.e., potential difference) and diffusible electron carriers that serve as nodes in a redox network; (iii) this redox-switching and electron flow is controlled by the redox network’s topology; and (iv) the ability of the PYO-PEG hydrogel to “transmit” electrons to a second insoluble redox-active material (i.e., a catechol-PEG hydrogel) is context-dependent (i.e., dependent on thermodynamic driving forces and appropriate redox shuttles). These studies provide an experimental demonstration of important features of redox-communication and also suggest technological opportunities for the fabrication of interactive materials. Thiol-pyocyanin reaction was used to create a redox-active and interactive hydrogel The electron flow and molecular switching requires diffusible mediators These mediators and pyocyanin hydrogel serve as “nodes” in a redox reaction network The networked flow of electrons between two separated hydrogels is reported
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