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Updated: Sep 25, 2025
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Using Synthetic Biology to Engineer Living Cells That Interface with Programmable Materials
Published on: March 9, 2017
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Programmable Living Materials Constructed with the Dynamic Covalent Interface between Synthetic Polymers and
Hyuna Jo1, Seunghyun Sim1,2,3
1Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|April 29, 2022
Summary
Researchers created programmable living materials using synthetic polymers and engineered bacteria (Bacillus subtilis). These materials enable biosensing and protein release, with potential for recycling and cell retrieval for analysis.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Science
- Synthetic Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Living materials offer unique functionalities by integrating biological components with synthetic structures.
- Developing robust interfaces between synthetic polymers and microbial cells is crucial for advanced applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first programmable living materials using a dynamic covalent interface.
- To demonstrate the integration of engineered Bacillus subtilis cells with synthetic polymers.
- To explore functionalities like biosensing and controlled protein release.
Main Methods:
- Identification of a molecular motif for reversible dynamic covalent bonds on bacterial cell surfaces.
- Synthesis of block copolymers functionalized with this motif.
- Engineering Bacillus subtilis for integration into the polymer matrix.
Main Results:
- Successful construction of programmable living materials with a dynamic covalent interface.
- Demonstrated capabilities for biosensing and on-demand elution of recombinant proteins.
- Reversible retrieval of encapsulated cells for biological analysis and recyclability of the polymer component.
Conclusions:
- This work establishes a new paradigm for engineered living materials.
- Provides a versatile platform for integrating engineered cells with synthetic polymers.
- Opens avenues for studying cell-material interactions and developing novel biomaterials.
