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Lu C, Huang Y, Cui J, Wu J, Jiang C, Gu X, Cao Y, Yin S. Toward Practical Applications of Engineered Living Materials with Advanced Fabrication Techniques. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:2295-2312. [PMID: 39002162 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00259] [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: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Engineered Living Materials (ELMs) are materials composed of or incorporating living cells as essential functional units. These materials can be created using bottom-up approaches, where engineered cells spontaneously form well-defined aggregates. Alternatively, top-down methods employ advanced materials science techniques to integrate cells with various kinds of materials, creating hybrids where cells and materials are intricately combined. ELMs blend synthetic biology with materials science, allowing for dynamic responses to environmental stimuli such as stress, pH, humidity, temperature, and light. These materials exhibit unique "living" properties, including self-healing, self-replication, and environmental adaptability, making them highly suitable for a wide range of applications in medicine, environmental conservation, and manufacturing. Their inherent biocompatibility and ability to undergo genetic modifications allow for customized functionalities and prolonged sustainability. This review highlights the transformative impact of ELMs over recent decades, particularly in healthcare and environmental protection. We discuss current preparation methods, including the use of endogenous and exogenous scaffolds, living assembly, 3D bioprinting, and electrospinning. Emphasis is placed on ongoing research and technological advancements necessary to enhance the safety, functionality, and practical applicability of ELMs in real-world contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenjing Lu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Yaying Huang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Jian Cui
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Junhua Wu
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan 250021, China
- Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Chunping Jiang
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan 250021, China
- Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Xiaosong Gu
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Yi Cao
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan 250021, China
- Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine innovation center, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine innovation center, MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Sheng Yin
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan 250021, China
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Wang Y, Liu Y, Li J, Chen Y, Liu S, Zhong C. Engineered living materials (ELMs) design: From function allocation to dynamic behavior modulation. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2022; 70:102188. [PMID: 35970133 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Natural materials possess many distinctive "living" attributes, such as self-growth, self-healing, environmental responsiveness, and evolvability, that are beyond the reach of many existing synthetic materials. The emerging field of engineered living materials (ELMs) takes inspiration from nature and harnesses engineered living systems to produce dynamic and responsive materials with genetically programmable functionalities. Here, we identify and review two main directions for the rational design of ELMs: first, engineering of living materials with enhanced performances by incorporating functional material modules, including engineered biological building blocks (proteins, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids) or well-defined artificial materials; second, engineering of smart ELMs that can sense and respond to their surroundings by programming dynamic cellular behaviors regulated via cell-cell or cell-environment interactions. We next discuss the strengths and challenges of current ELMs and conclude by providing a perspective of future directions in this promising area.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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
| | - Yi 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; School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Jing Li
- 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
| | - Yue Chen
- 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
| | - Sizhe 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; School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - 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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Rivera-Tarazona LK, Campbell ZT, Ware TH. Stimuli-responsive engineered living materials. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:785-809. [PMID: 33410841 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01905d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive materials are able to undergo controllable changes in materials properties in response to external cues. Increasing efforts have been directed towards building materials that mimic the responsive nature of biological systems. Nevertheless, limitations remain surrounding the way these synthetic materials interact and respond to their environment. In particular, it is difficult to synthesize synthetic materials that respond with specificity to poorly differentiated (bio)chemical and weak physical stimuli. The emerging area of engineered living materials (ELMs) includes composites that combine living cells and synthetic materials. ELMs have yielded promising advances in the creation of stimuli-responsive materials that respond with diverse outputs in response to a broad array of biochemical and physical stimuli. This review describes advances made in the genetic engineering of the living component and the processing-property relationships of stimuli-responsive ELMs. Finally, the implementation of stimuli-responsive ELMs as environmental sensors, biomedical sensors, drug delivery vehicles, and soft robots is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura K Rivera-Tarazona
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 101 Bizzell Street, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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Wang GH, Tsai TH, Kui CC, Cheng CY, Huang TL, Chung YC. Analysis of bioavailable toluene by using recombinant luminescent bacterial biosensors with different promoters. J Biol Eng 2021; 15:2. [PMID: 33407661 PMCID: PMC7789755 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-020-00254-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we constructed recombinant luminescent Escherichia coli with T7, T3, and SP6 promoters inserted between tol and lux genes as toluene biosensors and evaluated their sensitivity, selectivity, and specificity for measuring bioavailable toluene in groundwater and river water. The luminescence intensity of each biosensor depended on temperature, incubation time, ionic strength, and concentrations of toluene and coexisting organic compounds. Toluene induced the highest luminescence intensity in recombinant lux-expressing E. coli with the T7 promoter [T7-lux-E. coli, limit of detection (LOD) = 0.05 μM], followed by that in E. coli with the T3 promoter (T3-lux-E. coli, LOD = 0.2 μM) and SP6 promoter (SP6-lux-E. coli, LOD = 0.5 μM). Luminescence may have been synergistically or antagonistically affected by coexisting organic compounds other than toluene; nevertheless, low concentrations of benzoate and toluene analogs had no such effect. In reproducibility experiments, the biosensors had low relative standard deviation (4.3-5.8%). SP6-lux-E. coli demonstrated high adaptability to environmental interference. T7-lux-E. coli biosensor-with low LOD, wide measurement range (0.05-500 μM), and acceptable deviation (- 14.3 to 9.1%)-is an efficient toluene biosensor. This is the first study evaluating recombinant lux E. coli with different promoters for their potential application in toluene measurement in actual water bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guey-Horng Wang
- Research Center of Natural Cosmeceuticals Engineering, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, 361008, China
| | - Teh-Hua Tsai
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chi Kui
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 11581, Taiwan
| | - Chiu-Yu Cheng
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 11581, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Ling Huang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 11581, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Chien Chung
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 11581, Taiwan.
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Repetitive Detection of Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contaminants with Bioluminescent Bioreporters Attached on Tapered Optical Fiber Elements. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20113237. [PMID: 32517218 PMCID: PMC7309017 DOI: 10.3390/s20113237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we show the repetitive detection of toluene on a tapered optical fiber element (OFE) with an attached layer of Pseudomonas putida TVA8 bioluminescent bioreporters. The bioluminescent cell layer was attached on polished quartz modified with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES). The repeatability of the preparation of the optical probe and its use was demonstrated with five differently shaped OFEs. The intensity of measured bioluminescence was minimally influenced by the OFE shape, possessing transmittances between 1.41% and 5.00%. OFE probes layered with P. putida TVA8 were used to monitor liquid toluene over a two-week period. It was demonstrated that OFE probes layered with positively induced P. putida TVA8 bioreporters were reliable detectors of toluene. A toluene concentration of 26.5 mg/L was detected after <30 min after immersion of the probe in the toluene solution. Additional experiments also immobilized constitutively bioluminescent cells of E. coli 652T7, on OFEs with polyethyleneimine (PEI). These OFEs were repetitively induced with Lauria-Bertani (LB) nutrient medium. Bioluminescence appeared 15 minutes after immersion of the OFE in LB. A change in pH from 7 to 6 resulted in a decrease in bioluminescence that was not restored following additional nutrient inductions at pH 7. The E. coli 652T7 OFE probe was therefore sensitive to negative influences but could not be repetitively used.
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Peltomaa R, Glahn-Martínez B, Benito-Peña E, Moreno-Bondi MC. Optical Biosensors for Label-Free Detection of Small Molecules. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2018; 18:E4126. [PMID: 30477248 PMCID: PMC6308632 DOI: 10.3390/s18124126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Label-free optical biosensors are an intriguing option for the analyses of many analytes, as they offer several advantages such as high sensitivity, direct and real-time measurement in addition to multiplexing capabilities. However, development of label-free optical biosensors for small molecules can be challenging as most of them are not naturally chromogenic or fluorescent, and in some cases, the sensor response is related to the size of the analyte. To overcome some of the limitations associated with the analysis of biologically, pharmacologically, or environmentally relevant compounds of low molecular weight, recent advances in the field have improved the detection of these analytes using outstanding methodology, instrumentation, recognition elements, or immobilization strategies. In this review, we aim to introduce some of the latest developments in the field of label-free optical biosensors with the focus on applications with novel innovations to overcome the challenges related to small molecule detection. Optical label-free methods with different transduction schemes, including evanescent wave and optical fiber sensors, surface plasmon resonance, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and interferometry, using various biorecognition elements, such as antibodies, aptamers, enzymes, and bioinspired molecularly imprinted polymers, are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riikka Peltomaa
- Departamento de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Bettina Glahn-Martínez
- Departamento de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Elena Benito-Peña
- Departamento de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - María C Moreno-Bondi
- Departamento de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
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