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Carmona M, Poblete-Castro I, Rai M, Turner RJ. Opportunities and obstacles in microbial synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Microb Biotechnol 2023; 16:871-876. [PMID: 36965145 PMCID: PMC10128127 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Metallic nanoparticles (MeNPs) are widely used in many areas such as biomedicine, packaging, cosmetics, colourants, agriculture, antimicrobial agents, cleaning products, as components of electronic devices and nutritional supplements. In addition, some MeNPs exhibit quantum properties, making them suitable materials in the photonics, electronic and energy industries. Through the lens of technology, microbes can be considered nanofactories capable of producing enzymes, metabolites and capping materials involved in the synthesis, assembly and stabilization of MeNPs. This bioprocess is considered more ecofriendly and less energy intensive than the current chemical synthesis routes. However, microbial synthesis of MeNPs as an alternative method to the chemical synthesis of nanomaterials still faces some challenges that need to be solved. Some of these challenges are described in this Editorial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Carmona
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Mahendra Rai
- Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati, Maharashtra, India
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2
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Dhanker R, Hussain T, Tyagi P, Singh KJ, Kamble SS. The Emerging Trend of Bio-Engineering Approaches for Microbial Nanomaterial Synthesis and Its Applications. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:638003. [PMID: 33796089 PMCID: PMC8008120 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.638003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Micro-organisms colonized the world before the multi-cellular organisms evolved. With the advent of microscopy, their existence became evident to the mankind and also the vast processes they regulate, that are in direct interest of the human beings. One such process that intrigued the researchers is the ability to grow in presence of toxic metals. The process seemed to be simple with the metal ions being sequestrated into the inclusion bodies or cell surfaces enabling the conversion into nontoxic nanostructures. However, the discovery of genome sequencing techniques highlighted the genetic makeup of these microbes as a quintessential aspect of these phenomena. The findings of metal resistance genes (MRG) in these microbes showed a rather complex regulation of these processes. Since most of these MRGs are plasmid encoded they can be transferred horizontally. With the discovery of nanoparticles and their many applications from polymer chemistry to drug delivery, the demand for innovative techniques of nanoparticle synthesis increased dramatically. It is now established that microbial synthesis of nanoparticles provides numerous advantages over the existing chemical methods. However, it is the explicit use of biotechnology, molecular biology, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and genetic engineering tools that revolutionized the world of microbial nanotechnology. Detailed study of the micro and even nanolevel assembly of microbial life also intrigued biologists and engineers to generate molecular motors that mimic bacterial flagellar motor. In this review, we highlight the importance and tremendous hidden potential of bio-engineering tools in exploiting the area of microbial nanoparticle synthesis. We also highlight the application oriented specific modulations that can be done in the stages involved in the synthesis of these nanoparticles. Finally, the role of these nanoparticles in the natural ecosystem is also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raunak Dhanker
- Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Engineering and Sciences, GD Goenka University, Gurugram, India
| | - Touseef Hussain
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Priyanka Tyagi
- Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Engineering and Sciences, GD Goenka University, Gurugram, India
| | - Kawal Jeet Singh
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, India
| | - Shashank S. Kamble
- Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Engineering and Sciences, GD Goenka University, Gurugram, India
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3
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Kan A, Joshi NS. Towards the directed evolution of protein materials. MRS COMMUNICATIONS 2019; 9:441-455. [PMID: 31750012 PMCID: PMC6867688 DOI: 10.1557/mrc.2019.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Protein-based materials have emerged as a powerful instrument for a new generation of biological materials, with many chemical and mechanical capabilities. Through the manipulation of DNA, researchers can design proteins at the molecular level, engineering a vast array of structural building blocks. However, our capability to rationally design and predict the properties of such materials is limited by the vastness of possible sequence space. Directed evolution has emerged as a powerful tool to improve biological systems through mutation and selection, presenting another avenue to produce novel protein materials. In this prospective review, we discuss the application of directed evolution for protein materials, reviewing current examples and developments that could facilitate the evolution of protein for material applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Kan
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Neel S. Joshi
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
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4
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Santos‐Moreno J, Schaerli Y. Using Synthetic Biology to Engineer Spatial Patterns. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 3:e1800280. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Javier Santos‐Moreno
- Department of Fundamental MicrobiologyUniversity of LausanneBiophore Building 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Yolanda Schaerli
- Department of Fundamental MicrobiologyUniversity of LausanneBiophore Building 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
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5
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Biosynthetic transition metal chalcogenide semiconductor nanoparticles: Progress in synthesis, property control and applications. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Scott FY, Heyde KC, Rice MK, Ruder WC. Engineering a living biomaterial via bacterial surface capture of environmental molecules. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2018; 3:ysy017. [PMID: 32995524 PMCID: PMC7445765 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysy017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology holds significant potential in biomaterials science as synthetically engineered cells can produce new biomaterials, or alternately, can function as living components of new biomaterials. Here, we describe the creation of a new biomaterial that incorporates living bacterial constituents that interact with their environment using engineered surface display. We first developed a gene construct that enabled simultaneous expression of cytosolic mCherry and a surface-displayed, catalytically active enzyme capable of covalently bonding with benzylguanine (BG) groups. We then created a functional living material within a microfluidic channel using these genetically engineered cells. The material forms when engineered cells covalently bond to ambient BG-modified molecules upon induction. Given the wide range of materials amenable to functionalization with BG-groups, our system provides a proof-of-concept for the sequestration and assembly of BG-functionalized molecules on a fluid-swept, living biomaterial surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicia Y Scott
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Keith C Heyde
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - MaryJoe K Rice
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Warren C Ruder
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Abstract
Engineering synthetic gene regulatory circuits proceeds through iterative cycles of design, building, and testing. Initial circuit designs must rely on often-incomplete models of regulation established by fields of reductive inquiry—biochemistry and molecular and systems biology. As differences in designed and experimentally observed circuit behavior are inevitably encountered, investigated, and resolved, each turn of the engineering cycle can force a resynthesis in understanding of natural network function. Here, we outline research that uses the process of gene circuit engineering to advance biological discovery. Synthetic gene circuit engineering research has not only refined our understanding of cellular regulation but furnished biologists with a toolkit that can be directed at natural systems to exact precision manipulation of network structure. As we discuss, using circuit engineering to predictively reorganize, rewire, and reconstruct cellular regulation serves as the ultimate means of testing and understanding how cellular phenotype emerges from systems-level network function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb J. Bashor
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA;,
| | - James J. Collins
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA;,
- Harvard–MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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Winnacker M. Recent advances in the synthesis of functional materials by engineered and recombinant living cells. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:6672-6677. [PMID: 28944817 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm01000a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
At the interface of materials science and synthetic biology, several concepts were recently developed for the production of functional materials by living cells. Selected recent strategies for this are highlighted here with a focus on bioactive, electronic and fluorescent materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malte Winnacker
- WACKER-Chair of Macromolecular Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technische Universität München, 85747 Garching bei München, Germany.
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Heyde KC, Scott FY, Paek SH, Zhang R, Ruder WC. Using Synthetic Biology to Engineer Living Cells That Interface with Programmable Materials. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28362372 DOI: 10.3791/55300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
We have developed an abiotic-biotic interface that allows engineered cells to control the material properties of a functionalized surface. This system is made by creating two modules: a synthetically engineered strain of E. coli cells and a functionalized material interface. Within this paper, we detail a protocol for genetically engineering selected behaviors within a strain of E. coli using molecular cloning strategies. Once developed, this strain produces elevated levels of biotin when exposed to a chemical inducer. Additionally, we detail protocols for creating two different functionalized surfaces, each of which is able to respond to cell-synthesized biotin. Taken together, we present a methodology for creating a linked, abiotic-biotic system that allows engineered cells to control material composition and assembly on nonliving substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith C Heyde
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University; Engineering Science and Mechanics Program, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
| | - Felicia Y Scott
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
| | - Sung-Ho Paek
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
| | - Ruihua Zhang
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
| | - Warren C Ruder
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh;
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Zhang R, Heyde KC, Scott FY, Paek SH, Ruder WC. Programming Surface Chemistry with Engineered Cells. ACS Synth Biol 2016; 5:936-41. [PMID: 27203116 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.6b00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We have developed synthetic gene networks that enable engineered cells to selectively program surface chemistry. E. coli were engineered to upregulate biotin synthase, and therefore biotin synthesis, upon biochemical induction. Additionally, two different functionalized surfaces were developed that utilized binding between biotin and streptavidin to regulate enzyme assembly on programmable surfaces. When combined, the interactions between engineered cells and surfaces demonstrated that synthetic biology can be used to engineer cells that selectively control and modify molecular assembly by exploiting surface chemistry. Our system is highly modular and has the potential to influence fields ranging from tissue engineering to drug development and delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruihua Zhang
- Department
of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Keith C. Heyde
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Felicia Y. Scott
- Department
of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Sung-Ho Paek
- Department
of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Warren C. Ruder
- Department
of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
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11
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Venturelli OS, Egbert RG, Arkin AP. Towards Engineering Biological Systems in a Broader Context. J Mol Biol 2016; 428:928-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2015.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Revised: 10/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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12
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Ma KC, Perli SD, Lu TK. Foundations and Emerging Paradigms for Computing in Living Cells. J Mol Biol 2016; 428:893-915. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Revised: 02/13/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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13
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Chessher A, Breitling R, Takano E. Bacterial Microcompartments: Biomaterials for Synthetic Biology-Based Compartmentalization Strategies. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2015; 1:345-351. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5b00059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Chessher
- Manchester Synthetic Biology
Research Centre SYNBIOCHEM, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology,
The Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess
Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Rainer Breitling
- Manchester Synthetic Biology
Research Centre SYNBIOCHEM, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology,
The Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess
Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Eriko Takano
- Manchester Synthetic Biology
Research Centre SYNBIOCHEM, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology,
The Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess
Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
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14
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Abstract
Natural materials, such as bone, integrate living cells composed of organic molecules together with inorganic components. This enables combinations of functionalities, such as mechanical strength and the ability to regenerate and remodel, which are not present in existing synthetic materials. Taking a cue from nature, we propose that engineered 'living functional materials' and 'living materials synthesis platforms' that incorporate both living systems and inorganic components could transform the performance and the manufacturing of materials. As a proof-of-concept, we recently demonstrated that synthetic gene circuits in Escherichia coli enabled biofilms to be both a functional material in its own right and a materials-synthesis platform. To demonstrate the former, we engineered E. coli biofilms into a chemical-inducer-responsive electrical switch. To demonstrate the latter, we engineered E. coli biofilms to dynamically organize biotic-abiotic materials across multiple length scales, template gold nanorods, gold nanowires, and metal/semiconductor heterostructures, and synthesize semiconductor nanoparticles (Chen, A. Y. et al. (2014) Synthesis and patterning of tunable multiscale materials with engineered cells. Nat. Mater. 13, 515-523.). Thus, tools from synthetic biology, such as those for artificial gene regulation, can be used to engineer the spatiotemporal characteristics of living systems and to interface living systems with inorganic materials. Such hybrids can possess novel properties enabled by living cells while retaining desirable functionalities of inorganic systems. These systems, as living functional materials and as living materials foundries, would provide a radically different paradigm of materials performance and synthesis-materials possessing multifunctional, self-healing, adaptable, and evolvable properties that are created and organized in a distributed, bottom-up, autonomously assembled, and environmentally sustainable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen
Y. Chen
- Biophysics
Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Department of Biological
Engineering, and Microbiology Program, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, 77 Massachusetts
Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- MIT Synthetic
Biology Center, 500 Technology Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Harvard−MIT Health
Sciences and Technology, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Chao Zhong
- Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Department of Biological
Engineering, and Microbiology Program, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, 77 Massachusetts
Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- MIT Synthetic
Biology Center, 500 Technology Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Timothy K. Lu
- Biophysics
Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Department of Biological
Engineering, and Microbiology Program, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, 77 Massachusetts
Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- MIT Synthetic
Biology Center, 500 Technology Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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