Complex Living Materials Made by Light-Based Printing of Genetically Programmed Bacteria

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Synthetic Biology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Living materials with embedded microorganisms offer unique sensing, self-repairing, and responsive properties.
• Current limitations exist in shaping these bacterial hydrogels into complex 3D structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate light-based printing techniques for fabricating complex 3D living materials from bacteria-laden hydrogels.
• To explore the creation of novel architectures and functionalities in these engineered living materials.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing readily available light-based printing techniques to shape hydrogels containing microorganisms.
• Employing bioluminescent and melanin-producing bacteria (wild-type and engineered) to impart specific functionalities.
• Harnessing the metabolic activity of embedded bacteria for autonomous capabilities.

Main Results:

• Successfully shaped bacteria-laden hydrogels into complex 3D living materials with unusual architectures.
• Created materials with autonomous chemical-sensing capabilities using bioluminescent and melanin-producing bacteria.
• Demonstrated the potential for programmable functionalities through bacterial metabolic activity.

Conclusions:

• Light-based printing offers significant freedom in shaping living materials for diverse applications.
• The combination of bacterial diversity and printing technologies expands the design space for complex living materials.
• These advancements pave the way for programmable living materials in medicine, robotics, and infrastructure.