Living fabrication of functional semi-interpenetrating polymeric materials

Zhuojun Dai (), Xiaoyu Yang, Feilun Wu, Lihua Wang, Kun Xiang, Pengcheng Li, Qingqing Lv, Jinhui Tang, Anders Dohlman, Lei Dai, Xiling Shen and Lingchong You ()
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Zhuojun Dai: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiaoyu Yang: Rice University
Feilun Wu: Duke University
Lihua Wang: Duke University
Kun Xiang: Duke University
Pengcheng Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qingqing Lv: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jinhui Tang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Anders Dohlman: Duke University
Lei Dai: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiling Shen: Duke University
Lingchong You: Duke University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Cell-mediated living fabrication has great promise for generating materials with versatile, programmable functions. Here, we demonstrate the engineering of living materials consisting of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (sIPN). The fabrication process is driven by the engineered bacteria encapsulated in a polymeric microcapsule, which serves as the initial scaffold. The bacteria grow and undergo programmed lysis in a density-dependent manner, releasing protein monomers decorated with reactive tags. Those protein monomers polymerize with each other to form the second polymeric component that is interlaced with the initial crosslinked polymeric scaffold. The formation of sIPN serves the dual purposes of enhancing the mechanical property of the living materials and anchoring effector proteins for diverse applications. The material is resilient to perturbations because of the continual assembly of the protein mesh from the monomers released by the engineered bacteria. We demonstrate the adoption of the platform to protect gut microbiota in animals from antibiotic-mediated perturbations. Our work lays the foundation for programming functional living materials for diverse applications.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23812-7

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