A biopiezocatalyst harnessing mechanical energy to enhance bioplastic production from CO2 and organic carbon

Pier-Luc Tremblay, Mengying Xu, Muhammad Babur Joya, Yujie Wang, Chun He, Ziqiu Li, Lian Li, Kai Xu, Yujie Feng and Tian Zhang ()
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Pier-Luc Tremblay: Wuhan University of Technology
Mengying Xu: Wuhan University of Technology
Muhammad Babur Joya: Wuhan University of Technology
Yujie Wang: Wuhan University of Technology
Chun He: Wuhan University of Technology
Ziqiu Li: Wuhan University of Technology
Lian Li: Wuhan University of Technology
Kai Xu: Wuhan University of Technology
Yujie Feng: Harbin Institute of Technology
Tian Zhang: Wuhan University of Technology

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The sustainable bioproduction of chemicals from CO2 remains far from reaching its full potential. The productivity of autotrophic bioprocesses could benefit from harnessing ubiquitous mechanical energy sources, which are inaccessible for energizing bioproduction systems to this day. In this work, we develop a hybrid system where the efficient piezocatalyst zinc oxide (ZnO) harnesses mechanical vibration to stimulate the growth of the chemolithoautotrophic bacterium Cupriavidus necator and its production of the bioplastic polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from CO2. Both ultrasonication and intense wave-like motion at least triple autotrophic PHB production with ZnO forming a cohesive aggregate with C. necator and transferring charges to its respiratory metabolism. The same ZnO-C.necator system doubles heterotrophic PHB synthesis from fructose, highlighting its extensive potential for multiple biosynthesis applications. The hybrid approach reported here provides a blueprint route for powering bioproduction from CO2 or other substrates with widespread mechanical energy such as industrial vibrations and natural waves.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63576-y

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