Control theory meets synthetic biology

Area of Science:

• Synthetic biology
• Control theory
• Biomolecular engineering

Background:

• Synthetic biology aims to engineer biological systems for novel functions.
• Building reliable synthetic biomolecular circuits in living cells presents significant challenges.
• Control theoretic concepts are increasingly applied to address these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of control design concepts in synthetic biology.
• To highlight successes in making synthetic genetic circuits more robust and predictable.
• To bridge the knowledge gap between synthetic biologists and control theorists.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on control theory applications in synthetic biology.
• Categorization of control design methods used for synthetic genetic circuits.
• Analysis of challenges and solutions in implementing control designs in cellular environments.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of how control design methods improve circuit reliability, predictability, and robustness.
• Identification of technical challenges unique to implementing control in biological hardware.
• Examples of implemented and proposed engineering solutions, including feedback control schemes.

Conclusions:

• Control theory offers powerful tools for advancing synthetic biology.
• Further theoretical analysis is needed for complex control schemes.
• This review facilitates interdisciplinary understanding between synthetic biologists and control theorists.