Theranostic Probiotic Engineered Living Materials That Dynamically Respond to Inflammation Markers.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Synthetic Biology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Conventional inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatments have limitations.
• Engineered probiotics offer targeted therapeutic compound production.
• Effective delivery systems are crucial for engineered probiotic viability and localization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a 3D printed engineered living material (ELM) for localized inflammation treatment.
• To engineer probiotic organisms for sensing inflammatory biomarkers and producing anti-inflammatory agents.
• To evaluate the efficacy of ELM devices in vitro.

Main Methods:

• Utilized engineered E. coli Nissle 1917 with genetic circuits.
• Incorporated bacteria into poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) resins.
• Employed light-based 3D printing to create ELM constructs.
• Assessed nitric oxide detection and anti-inflammatory compound production.
• Tested ELM efficacy in murine macrophage and intestinal epithelial cell models.

Main Results:

• Successfully 3D printed viable and metabolically active ELM devices.
• ELMs detected nitric oxide, a key inflammatory biomarker.
• ELMs produced tryptamine and 1-acetyl-3-carboxyl-β-carboline in response to inflammation.
• Demonstrated efficacy in treating in vitro models of inflammation.

Conclusions:

• 3D printed ELMs show promise for localized, on-demand treatment of IBD.
• These theranostic devices offer a potential advancement over conventional therapies.
• Further development could lead to long-term management of inflammatory disorders.