Curated Papers > In recent years, high-impact research in "synthetic biology" (IF≥30, past 5 years)

The living interface between synthetic biology and biomaterial design.

Literature Information

DOI	10.1038/s41563-022-01231-3
PMID	35361951
Journal	Nature materials
Impact Factor	38.5
JCR Quartile	Q1
Publication Year	2022
Times Cited	59
Keywords	Synthetic Biology, Biomaterials, Hierarchical Structure, Living Materials, Bioinspired
Literature Type	Journal Article, Review, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
ISSN	1476-1122
Pages	390-397
Issue	21(4)
Authors	Allen P Liu, Eric A Appel, Paul D Ashby, Brendon M Baker, Elisa Franco, Luo Gu, Karmella Haynes, Neel S Joshi, April M Kloxin, Paul H J Kouwer, Jeetain Mittal, Leonardo Morsut, Vincent Noireaux, Sapun Parekh, Rebecca Schulman, Sindy K Y Tang, Megan T Valentine, Sebastián L Vega, Wilfried Weber, Nicholas Stephanopoulos, Ovijit Chaudhuri

TL;DR

This paper highlights the recent advancements in synthetic biology and soft-condensed matter, emphasizing their potential to create innovative biomaterials that can address significant challenges in health, biotechnology, and sustainability. It advocates for enhanced collaboration between these fields to develop hierarchical biomaterials, including bioinspired structures and responsive "living" materials, thereby unlocking transformative applications.

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Synthetic Biology · Biomaterials · Hierarchical Structure · Living Materials · Bioinspired

Abstract

Recent far-reaching advances in synthetic biology have yielded exciting tools for the creation of new materials. Conversely, advances in the fundamental understanding of soft-condensed matter, polymers and biomaterials offer new avenues to extend the reach of synthetic biology. The broad and exciting range of possible applications have substantial implications to address grand challenges in health, biotechnology and sustainability. Despite the potentially transformative impact that lies at the interface of synthetic biology and biomaterials, the two fields have, so far, progressed mostly separately. This Perspective provides a review of recent key advances in these two fields, and a roadmap for collaboration at the interface between the two communities. We highlight the near-term applications of this interface to the development of hierarchically structured biomaterials, from bioinspired building blocks to 'living' materials that sense and respond based on the reciprocal interactions between materials and embedded cells.

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Primary Questions Addressed

1. What specific challenges do researchers face when integrating synthetic biology with biomaterial design?
2. How can the principles of synthetic biology enhance the functionality of existing biomaterials in medical applications?
3. What are some examples of successful collaborations between synthetic biologists and biomaterial engineers in recent research?
4. In what ways can 'living' materials contribute to sustainability efforts in various industries?
5. How might advances in soft-condensed matter physics influence the future development of synthetic biology applications?

Key Findings

Research Background and Purpose

Recent advancements in synthetic biology and the understanding of soft-condensed matter, polymers, and biomaterials present significant opportunities for innovation in material science. This Perspective aims to explore the potential synergies between synthetic biology and biomaterials, emphasizing the necessity for collaboration between these two fields to address pressing challenges in health, biotechnology, and sustainability.

Main Methods/Materials/Experimental Design

The authors conducted a comprehensive review of recent literature in synthetic biology and biomaterials. The following key methodologies and experimental designs were identified as central to their discussion:

1. Review of Advances: Analysis of recent breakthroughs in synthetic biology tools and biomaterial technologies.
2. Identification of Applications: Exploration of applications that merge synthetic biology with biomaterials, focusing on the development of hierarchical structures and responsive materials.

The technical roadmap can be visualized as follows:

Key Results and Findings

The review highlighted several critical findings:

• Synergistic Potential: There is significant potential for synthetic biology and biomaterials to inform and enhance each other, leading to innovative solutions.
• Hierarchical Structures: The development of biomaterials with hierarchical structures can lead to enhanced functionality and adaptability.
• Living Materials: The concept of 'living' materials, which can sense and respond to environmental changes, is a promising area for future research.

Main Conclusions/Significance/Innovation

The Perspective concludes that:

• The intersection of synthetic biology and biomaterials is ripe for exploration and can lead to transformative innovations in various fields.
• Collaborative efforts between these disciplines are essential to fully realize the potential applications, particularly in creating advanced materials that are responsive and sustainable.
• The integration of living systems into material design represents a significant innovation, paving the way for the next generation of smart materials.

Research Limitations and Future Directions

While the review outlines exciting possibilities, it also acknowledges certain limitations:

• Separation of Fields: The current progress in synthetic biology and biomaterials has largely occurred in isolation, which may hinder collaborative innovation.
• Need for Interdisciplinary Approaches: There is a pressing need for interdisciplinary research teams to bridge the gap between these two fields.

Future directions suggested include:

• Encouraging joint research initiatives that leverage expertise from both synthetic biology and materials science.
• Developing more sophisticated 'living' materials that can mimic biological processes more closely.
• Expanding the application scope of these innovations to address specific health and environmental challenges.

Summary Table

Aspect	Details
Research Background	Exploration of synergies between synthetic biology and biomaterials for innovation.
Key Methodology	Comprehensive literature review; identification of collaborative applications.
Critical Findings	Potential for hierarchical structures and 'living' materials; significant innovation scope.
Main Conclusion	Collaboration is essential for realizing the full potential of both fields.
Limitations	Current separation of fields; need for interdisciplinary approaches.
Future Directions	Encourage joint initiatives; develop advanced responsive materials; broaden application scope.

Literatures Citing This Work

1. Synthetic protein condensates for cellular and metabolic engineering. - Zhi-Gang Qian;Sheng-Chen Huang;Xiao-Xia Xia - Nature chemical biology (2022)
2. Nanoenabled Trainable Systems: From Biointerfaces to Biomimetics. - Pengju Li;Saehyun Kim;Bozhi Tian - ACS nano (2022)
3. Computing Arithmetic Functions Using Immobilised Enzymatic Reaction Networks. - Nikita M Ivanov;Mathieu G Baltussen;Cristina Lía Fernández Regueiro;Max T G M Derks;Wilhelm T S Huck - Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English) (2023)
4. Spinal cord tissue engineering via covalent interaction between biomaterials and cells. - Weiyuan Liu;Bai Xu;Shuaijing Zhao;Shuyu Han;Rui Quan;Wenbin Liu;Chunnan Ji;Bing Chen;Zhifeng Xiao;Man Yin;Yanyun Yin;Jianwu Dai;Yannan Zhao - Science advances (2023)
5. Biomineralization inspired 3D printed bioactive glass nanocomposite scaffolds orchestrate diabetic bone regeneration by remodeling micromilieu. - Zeqian Xu;Xuanyu Qi;Minyue Bao;Tian Zhou;Junfeng Shi;Zhiyan Xu;Mingliang Zhou;Aldo R Boccaccini;Kai Zheng;Xinquan Jiang - Bioactive materials (2023)
6. Light and carbon: Synthetic biology toward new cyanobacteria-based living biomaterials. - Isabella M Goodchild-Michelman;George M Church;Max G Schubert;Tzu-Chieh Tang - Materials today. Bio (2023)
7. Timed material self-assembly controlled by circadian clock proteins. - Gregor Leech;Lauren Melcher;Michelle Chiu;Maya Nugent;Lily Burton;Janet Kang;Soo Ji Kim;Sourav Roy;Leila Farhadi;Jennifer L Ross;Moumita Das;Michael J Rust;Rae M Robertson-Anderson - ArXiv (2024)
8. Multiscale design of cell-free biologically active architectural structures. - G Ho;V Kubušová;C Irabien;V Li;A Weinstein;Sh Chawla;D Yeung;A Mershin;K Zolotovsky;L Mogas-Soldevila - Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology (2023)
9. Methods for numerical simulation of soft actively contractile materials. - Yali Li;Nakhiah C Goulbourne - Scientific reports (2023)
10. Secretion-Catalyzed Assembly of Protein Biomaterials on a Bacterial Membrane Surface. - Qi Xie;Sea On Lee;Nitya Vissamsetti;Sikao Guo;Margaret E Johnson;Stephen D Fried - Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English) (2023)

... (49 more literatures)

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