Photodriven Chemical Synthesis by Whole-Cell-Based Biohybrid Systems: From System Construction to Mechanism Study

Abstract

By simulating natural photosynthesis, the desirable high-value chemical products and clean fuels can be sustainably generated with solar energy. Whole-cell-based photosensitized biohybrid system, which innovatively couples the excellent light-harvesting capacity of semiconductor materials with the efficient catalytic ability of intracellular biocatalysts, is an appealing interdisciplinary creature to realize photodriven chemical synthesis. In this review, we summarize the constructed whole-cell-based biohybrid systems in different application fields, including carbon dioxide fixation, nitrogen fixation, hydrogen production, and other chemical synthesis. Moreover, we elaborate the charge transfer mechanism studies of representative biohybrids, which can help to deepen the current understanding of the synergistic process between photosensitizers and microorganisms, and provide schemes for building novel biohybrids with less electron transfer resistance, advanced productive efficiency, and functional diversity. Further exploration in this field has the prospect of making a breakthrough on the biotic–abiotic interface that will provide opportunities for multidisciplinary research.

Magnetic Control of Nonmagnetic Living Organisms

“…Magnetic fields represent a versatile method to control organisms in a contactless and chemically inert fashion and are highly effective at length scales as small as a few nanometers. , However, since most organisms do not display significant magnetizability, recent reports have devised techniques for magnetic hybridization. − These involve embedding a magnetic domain onto the organism, allowing indirect manipulation with an external magnetic field . Magnetic biohybrid microrobots show much promise in protocols that require cell delivery such as in vitro fertilization and biomedical applications .…”

Photo‐Electro‐Biochemical H2 Production Using the Carbon Material‐Based Cathode Combined with Genetically Engineered Escherichia coli Whole‐Cell Biocatalysis

“…[1] Such hybrids integrate efficient, stable, and low-cost light-to-chemical energy conversion using abiotic materials and selective, effective, and noble-metal-free catalysis under mild condition using biocatalysts. [2] For light-driven H 2 production, various abio/bio hybrids have been constructed by combining inorganic photocatalysts and purified H 2 -forming enzymes, such as hydrogenases, as abiotic and biocatalytic parts, respectively. [3] The light-driven H 2 production is achieved by direct electron transfer from the inorganic material to the redox site of the purified enzyme.…”

“…Abio/bio hybrid systems that combine an inorganic photocatalyst and a biocatalyst have attracted considerable interest in achieving solar‐to‐chemical conversion, including clean H 2 production via water splitting [1] . Such hybrids integrate efficient, stable, and low‐cost light‐to‐chemical energy conversion using abiotic materials and selective, effective, and noble‐metal‐free catalysis under mild condition using biocatalysts [2] …”

Integrated Biotic–Abiotic Solar Driven NADPH Regeneration Platform in Escherichia coli for Chemical Biomanufacturing Applications

“…To tackle this, extensive research has been devoted to multidisciplinary approaches. [1,[9][10][11] Yang and co-workers presented a study in which acetogenic bacteria utilized precipitated CdS for the light-triggered CO 2 reduction inside the living organism. [12] Following that, several biohybrid systems have been reported, using various inorganic nanomaterials as photosensitizers, including semiconductor QDs, [13][14][15] metal nanoparticles (NPs), [16,17] and molecular dyes.…”