Synthetic biology as driver for the biologization of materials sciences

Abstract

Materials in nature have fascinating properties that serve as a continuous source of inspiration for materials scientists. Accordingly, bio-mimetic and bio-inspired approaches have yielded remarkable structural and functional materials for a plethora of applications. Despite these advances, many properties of natural materials remain challenging or yet impossible to incorporate into synthetic materials. Natural materials are produced by living cells, which sense and process environmental cues and conditions by means of signaling and genetic programs, thereby controlling the biosynthesis, remodeling, functionalization, or degradation of the natural material. In this context, synthetic biology offers unique opportunities in materials sciences by providing direct access to the rational engineering of how a cell senses and processes environmental information and translates them into the properties and functions of materials. Here, we identify and review two main directions by which synthetic biology can be harnessed to provide new impulses for the biologization of the materials sciences: first, the engineering of cells to produce precursors for the subsequent synthesis of materials. This includes materials that are otherwise produced from petrochemical resources, but also materials where the bio-produced substances contribute unique properties and functions not existing in traditional materials. Second, engineered living materials that are formed or assembled by cells or in which cells contribute specific functions while remaining an integral part of the living composite material. We finally provide a perspective of future scientific directions of this promising area of research and discuss science policy that would be required to support research and development in this field.

Benchmarking of Cph1 Mutants and DrBphP for Light‐Responsive Phytochrome‐Based Hydrogels with Reversibly Adjustable Mechanical Properties

“…[ 3 ] Recently, several light‐responsive biomaterials utilizing the photoreceptors UVR8, [ 3b ] PhoCl, [ 4 ] LOV2, [ 3c,5 ] EL222, [ 6 ] Dronpa145N, [ 3d,3e ] CarH C , [ 3f,7 ] and Cph1 [ 3g,8 ] derived from bacteria, corals, or plants were developed. [ 9 ] Besides being inherently compatible with a biological environment, these photoreceptors have the advantage that their light‐induced activation is reversible and thus equip the biomaterials with reversibly adjustable mechanical properties (except for PhoCl and CarH C ). Reversible CarH C ‐based biomaterials may be engineered by mutating the photoreceptor in order to allow rebinding of new AdoB12 cofactor after AdoB12 photolysis.…”

Engineering synthetic spatial patterns in microbial populations and communities

“…It enables us to test and discover the general principles underlying complex patterning processes [9,54,55]. Other studies focused more on the engineering aspects of microbial spatial patterns, which have various potential applications ranging from providing tools for biomedical research [56], enhancing bioproduction by division of labor [18,57], performing complex, distributed biocomputation [58,59], and producing patterned engineered living materials [10,11]. Here, we highlight a few of them.…”

“…It facilitates the discovery and testing of general principles underlying complex patterning processes [9]. In addition, synthetic biology enables researchers to implement spatiotemporal patterns for novel applications such as engineered living materials [10,11].…”

Engineered Bacteria-Based Living Materials for Biotherapeutic Applications

“…It allows the reprogramming of microbes by providing well-characterized genetic parts and circuits ( Gilbert and Ellis, 2019 ; Burgos-Morales et al, 2021 ). Moreover, sophisticated genetic circuits have been developed with the help of molecular tools to perform complex tasks, gaining attention day by day ( Barra et al, 2020b ).…”