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Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Using Synthetic Biology to Engineer Living Cells That Interface with Programmable Materials
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Bacterially grown living materials with resistant and on-demand functionality.

Jeong-Joo Oh1, Franka H van der Linden1, Koray Malcı2,3

  • 1Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft 2629 HZ, Netherlands.

Science Advances
|October 10, 2025
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Engineered living materials (ELMs) were developed using dormant bacterial endospores within a bacterial cellulose matrix. This approach enhances material stability and allows for on-demand functionalization, overcoming limitations of traditional ELMs.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Engineered living materials (ELMs) offer programmable functions but suffer from short lifespans and poor environmental tolerance due to the inherent "livingness" of cells.
  • Existing ELMs face limitations in practical applications because of their sensitivity to harsh conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel class of engineered materials with programmable, dormant functionalities by integrating bacterial endospores into a bacterial cellulose matrix.
  • To overcome the limitations of short cell lifespan and low tolerance to harsh environments in traditional ELMs.

Main Methods:

  • Cultured a composite material using *Komagataeibacter rhaeticus* and *Bacillus* endospores in an engineered medium.
  • *K. rhaeticus* produced a bacterial cellulose (BC) matrix, encapsulating dormant *Bacillus* spores.
  • Genetic engineering was employed to modulate spore-BC matrix binding affinity.

Main Results:

  • The developed materials feature dormant *Bacillus* endospores integrated within a BC matrix, providing resistance to harsh environmental conditions.
  • Germination of *Bacillus* spores upon demand allows for the conferral of desired functions to the material.
  • Enhanced cell loading and material functionality were achieved by genetically engineering spore-BC binding affinity.

Conclusions:

  • These engineered materials represent a versatile, on-demand platform with programmable dormant functionalities.
  • Potential applications include biosensors, biocatalytic materials, and the in situ transformation of cellulose-based composites.
  • This approach significantly broadens the practical utility of engineered living materials by enhancing their robustness and programmability.