Shape-morphing living composites.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 32010767.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.aax8582 and PMC identifier 6968942.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
This work establishes a means to exploit genetic networks to create living synthetic composites that change shape in response to specific biochemical or physical stimuli. Baker's yeast embedded in a hydrogel forms a responsive material where cellular proliferation leads to a controllable increase in the composite volume of up to 400%. Genetic manipulation of the yeast enables composites where volume change on exposure to l-histidine is 14× higher than volume change when exposed to d-histidine or other amino acids. By encoding an optogenetic switch into the yeast, spatiotemporally controlled shape change is induced with pulses of dim blue light (2.7 mW/cm<sup>2</sup>). These living, shape-changing materials may enable sensors or medical devices that respond to highly specific cues found within a biological milieu.
Medical subject headings
- Gene Regulatory Networks
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae