Engineered Living Material Bioreactors with Tunable Mechanical Properties using Vat Photopolymerization

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Materials Science
• Bioengineering

Background:

• Engineered living materials (ELMs) are promising for bioproduction but face challenges in processability and mechanical property control.
• Current designs struggle with creating complex shapes and ensuring material integrity in diverse environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop 3D-printed engineered living materials (ELMs) as bioreactors with arbitrary geometries and tunable mechanical properties.
• To overcome the swelling and fracturing limitations of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels in aqueous environments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized vat photopolymerization to 3D print ELM bioreactors using poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) as a precursor.
• Incorporated glycerol into the PEGDA resin formulation to enhance hydrogel toughness and water stability.
• Investigated the effect of polymer concentration on mechanical properties and bioproduction efficiency.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated 3D-printed ELM bioreactors with arbitrary shapes and tunable mechanical properties (moduli and toughness).
• Addition of glycerol significantly improved the mechanical toughness of PEGDA hydrogels, preventing swelling and fracture in water.
• ELM bioreactors maintained metabolic activity across varying polymer concentrations, though higher concentrations reduced bioproduction.

Conclusions:

• 3D-printed ELMs offer a versatile platform for creating bioreactors with tailored mechanical characteristics.
• Glycerol-modified PEGDA hydrogels provide a robust solution for water-submerged bioproduction applications.
• These advanced ELM bioreactors hold potential for sustainable architecture, food production, and biomedical devices.