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Stretchable living materials and devices with hydrogel-elastomer hybrids hosting programmed cells.
Xinyue Liu1, Tzu-Chieh Tang2,3, Eléonore Tham2,4
1Soft Active Materials Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139.
Summary
Researchers developed stretchable living materials using hydrogel-elastomer hybrids to host genetically engineered bacteria. These robust, biocompatible materials enable long-term cell viability and function for applications like chemical sensors.
Area of Science:
- Synthetic biology
- Biomaterials engineering
- Cellular engineering
Background:
- Living systems can be engineered with synthetic circuits for sensing, computing, memory, and response functions.
- Integrating living components into materials offers powerful tools for research and technology, but maintaining cell viability during deformation is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and create stretchable, robust, and biocompatible living materials and devices.
- To enable long-term viability and functionality of encapsulated genetically engineered bacterial cells.
- To develop stretchable living sensors for chemical detection in various form factors.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of hydrogel-elastomer hybrid materials.
- Encapsulation of genetically engineered bacterial cells within the hybrid materials.
- Characterization of material properties (stretchability, robustness, air permeability) and cell viability.
- Development of a quantitative model for molecular transport and cellular response.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated long-term viability and functionality of encapsulated bacteria in stretchable, robust hydrogel-elastomer hybrids.
- Achieved cell-environment communication via molecular diffusion within the hydrogel.
- Developed stretchable living sensors in various form factors (e.g., skin patches, gloves) responsive to multiple chemicals.
- Validated a quantitative model to predict and aid the design of living materials.
Conclusions:
- Stretchable hydrogel-elastomer hybrids provide a viable platform for hosting and utilizing genetically engineered cells in dynamic environments.
- These living materials and devices offer promising applications in sensing and other technological fields.
- The developed model facilitates the rational design of future advanced living materials and devices.
