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Phenotypically complex living materials containing engineered cyanobacteria

Author

Listed:
  • Debika Datta

    (University of California San Diego)

  • Elliot L. Weiss

    (University of California San Diego
    University of California San Diego)

  • Daniel Wangpraseurt

    (University of California San Diego
    University of California San Diego)

  • Erica Hild

    (University of California San Diego)

  • Shaochen Chen

    (University of California San Diego)

  • James W. Golden

    (University of California San Diego)

  • Susan S. Golden

    (University of California San Diego)

  • Jonathan K. Pokorski

    (University of California San Diego
    University of California San Diego)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Debika Datta & Elliot L. Weiss & Daniel Wangpraseurt & Erica Hild & Shaochen Chen & James W. Golden & Susan S. Golden & Jonathan K. Pokorski, 2023. "Phenotypically complex living materials containing engineered cyanobacteria," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-40265-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40265-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marin Sawa & Andrea Fantuzzi & Paolo Bombelli & Christopher J. Howe & Klaus Hellgardt & Peter J. Nixon, 2017. "Electricity generation from digitally printed cyanobacteria," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Sierra M. Brooks & Hal S. Alper, 2021. "Applications, challenges, and needs for employing synthetic biology beyond the lab," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Daniel Wangpraseurt & Shangting You & Farooq Azam & Gianni Jacucci & Olga Gaidarenko & Mark Hildebrand & Michael Kühl & Alison G. Smith & Matthew P. Davey & Alyssa Smith & Dimitri D. Deheyn & Shaochen, 2020. "Bionic 3D printed corals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
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