bims-livmat 2026-08-02 papers

bims-livmat

Biomed News

on Living materials

Issue of 2026–08–02
seven papers selected by
Sara Trujillo Muñoz, Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien

De Novo Autogenic Engineered Living Functional Materials.
Synthesis of Ultra-Large Fibrous Proteins from Bacteria via a Looped-Translation System.
An Engineered Multicellular Bacterial Network for Simultaneously Answering Multiple Computational Decision Problems.
Oxygen exposure and diffusion are key formulation barriers in the microencapsulation of extremely oxygen-sensitive next-generation probiotics.
Light-Activated Communication Between Synthetic and Living Cells via Photoresponsive Membranes.
Bioadhesive Alginate/Chitosan Hydrogels for Sustained Probiotic Delivery and Enhanced Antibacterial Treatment of Oral Ulcers.
Engineering a 660 nm-Responsive Optogenetic Inducer of Pyroptosis for Precision Cancer Therapy.

Adv Mater. 2026 Jul 31. e74312

De Novo Autogenic Engineered Living Functional Materials.

Hoda M Hammad, Seth Swarnadeep, Erin C Jackson, Nicolas Burns, Hongyu Wang, Harrison Priode, Robert B Moore, Sanket Deshmukh, Avinash Manjula-Basavanna, Anna M Duraj-Thatte.

  Autogenic engineered living materials (ELMs) enable the in situ production and engineering of native extracellular matrix (ECM). However, existing autogenic ELMs remain limited in scope and functionality. Here, we present a versatile platform for de novo autogenic functional ELMs, leveraging protein mining, computational modeling, and synthetic biology. By analyzing 33,564 CsgA-like homologs, we identify candidates for de novo ECM protein nanofibers. Using AlphaFold2 and molecular dynamics simulations, we elucidate the structural stability of these β-solenoid proteins. By reprogramming the Escherichia coli curli machinery, we achieve the biosynthesis of CsgA-like ELMs from non-model bacteria, featuring up to a 9-fold increased molecular weight and expanded β-sheet repeat units. Furthermore, we fabricate macroscopic biomaterials with enhanced mechanical properties (a 3-fold increase in storage modulus), and their extracellular fiber networks attenuate UV-C irradiation, extending the survival of embedded cells by 5-fold. We further demonstrate programmable functionalities, including 3D printability and selective binding to nanoparticles and antibodies. This work establishes a powerful framework for discovering, designing, and harnessing natural biomolecular systems to advance next-generation autogenic ELMs.

Keywords:  curli nanofibers; engineered living materials; functional amyloids; protein hydrogels; protein structure prediction

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.74312
bioRxiv. 2026 Jul 17. pii: 2026.07.16.738376. [Epub ahead of print]

Synthesis of Ultra-Large Fibrous Proteins from Bacteria via a Looped-Translation System.

Qi Xie, Louis J Papa, Anton M Barybin, Michael Xiong, Matthew D Shoulders, Stephen D Fried.

High molecular weight fibrous proteins such as silk, elastin, and collagens, are fundamental for providing shape to macroscopic biological structures, yet their recombinant production remains challenging because of their extreme size and sequence repetitiveness. Here, we report a circular RNA-based ribosome translation platform that enables iterative ribosome synthesis of fibrous proteins through continuously "looped" translation. To promote efficient circularization of repetitive fibrous protein transcripts, we combined a synonymous codon locker sequence strategy with RNA circularization chaperones. Guided by a ribosome traffic model, we further optimized the translation bottlenecks within the circular RNA, substantially improving translation yields. The established looped translation platform is applicable to at least six classes of fibrous proteins and generated products with molecular weight exceeding titin at 3.8 MDa. The synthesized polypeptides were characterized through electron microscopy, bulk material fabrication, and mechanical analysis, demonstrating properties associated with ultra-high molecular weight polypeptides. Finally, we coupled looped translation to secretion through a programmed ribosomal frameshift, enabling export of fibrous protein across cellular membranes in both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis . We envision that the genetic tools presented here could find a range of applications in bioplastics and engineered living materials.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.16.738376
Biotechnol Bioeng. 2026 Jul 28.

An Engineered Multicellular Bacterial Network for Simultaneously Answering Multiple Computational Decision Problems.

Biyas Mukherjee, Sangram Bagh.

  Living cell-based computers are in their infancy and answering multiple computational decision problems by a single system remains a key challenge. Here, we demonstrate an artificial neural network type architecture implemented with molecular-genetically engineered bacteria that answer four computational decision problems by identifying four types of prime numbers, including cluster prime, Euclid prime, safe prime, and Lucas prime, within the range of 0-9 in a chemical space. First, we demonstrated that the network consisting of four engineered cells classified two prime number families, namely cluster and Lucas prime numbers. Next, we scaled up the four-cell network to a six-cell network by introducing two new engineered cells and demonstrated that the new network classified four prime number families. Questions were asked to the bacteria by applying chemicals in binary patterns, and the answers were obtained from the distinct expression patterns of multiple fluorescent proteins. Each bacterium was engineered with synthetic gene regulatory networks such that the system chemistry followed the mathematical nature of an artificial neuro-synapse module. Collectively, the molecular-genetically engineered bacterial population formed a single-layered artificial neural network type architecture in liquid culture to perform the overall computation. The work may have implications in synthetic biology, biocomputing, and biologically implemented AI wetware.

Keywords:  artificial neural networks; biocomputing; synthetic biology; synthetic gene regulatory network

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.70325
J Control Release. 2026 Jul 27. pii: S0168-3659(26)00612-7. [Epub ahead of print]398 115208

Oxygen exposure and diffusion are key formulation barriers in the microencapsulation of extremely oxygen-sensitive next-generation probiotics.

Yijia Zhong, Harry J Harvey, Sarah Corrigan, Phuong Linh Ta, Kele Shen, Nneka W Igwebuike, Liam M Grover, Richard D Horniblow.

  Extremely oxygen-sensitive (EOS) next-generation probiotics are increasingly recognised as promising microbial biotherapeutics; however, their strict intolerance to oxygen poses major challenges for formulation and long-term stability as oral therapies. Many established bioencapsulation approaches, including prilling-based microencapsulation, were developed for the controlled delivery of aerotolerant probiotic strains, and such methods may be unsuitable for these next-generation EOS organisms. This study systematically evaluated whether prilling-based hydrogel bioencapsulation, a platform conventionally developed and optimised for aerotolerant probiotic strains, is suitable for the formulation of EOS probiotics. Using Anaerobutyricum hallii as an EOS organism and Lactobacillus johnsonii as an aerotolerant comparator, we show that oxygen exposure during all stages of microencapsulation, in addition to post-encapsulation storage, compromises EOS survival, while aerotolerant strains remained unaffected. When this conventional prilling workflow was modified to maintain oxygen-free conditions, EOS viability was preserved through the early processing stages; however, recovery remained low following complete MC formation, even under oxygen-free conditions (2.8-11.6%). Post-encapsulation storage revealed rapid EOS viability loss under oxygen-replete conditions and progressive decline even under anaerobic storage. Direct physical measurements of oxygen transport within MCs demonstrated that calcium cross-linking slowed, but did not prevent, oxygen diffusion, with oxygen ingress occurring in a particle-size-dependent manner. These findings establish oxygen exposure as a critical design constraint in the formulation of EOS probiotics and demonstrate that prilling-based bioencapsulation workflows developed for conventional probiotic delivery are not directly transferable to these organisms. Future EOS microbiome therapeutics will require oxygen-controlled manufacturing workflows and biomaterial systems specifically engineered to preserve viability from processing through gastrointestinal delivery.

Keywords:  Anaerobutyricum hallii; Bioencapsulation; Extremely oxygen-sensitive probiotics; Hydrogel microcomposites; Lactobacillus johnsonii; Prilling; Probiotic viability

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2026.115208
Chembiochem. 2026 Jul 29. 27(14): e70469

Light-Activated Communication Between Synthetic and Living Cells via Photoresponsive Membranes.

Roberto Barbaro, Paola Albanese, Matilde Colella, Davide Lattarulo, Samrat Saha, Jack L-Y Chen, Fabio Mavelli, Federico Rossi, Emiliano Altamura.

  Synthetic cells (SCs) are programmable biomimetic systems that reproduce selected cellular functions while offering high structural and functional controllability. A particularly attractive feature of SCs is their ability to respond to external stimuli, enabling regulated cargo release and communication with living cells. Here, we report a light-responsive SC platform capable of establishing chemically mediated communication with human cancer cells. Upon light stimulation, the SCs release signaling molecules, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and histamine, that activate intracellular calcium signaling pathways in target cells. These results demonstrate the feasibility of remotely controlled communication between synthetic and living cells and highlight the potential of SCs as bio-hybrid interfaces for precise cellular modulation, therapeutic delivery, artificial organelles, and other biomedical applications.

Keywords:  biomimetic membranes; cell signaling; cell to cell communication; controlled delivery; photoswitch; rupture of membranes; signal transduction; synthetic cells

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/cbic.70469
Gels. 2026 Jul 01. pii: 581. [Epub ahead of print]12(7):

Bioadhesive Alginate/Chitosan Hydrogels for Sustained Probiotic Delivery and Enhanced Antibacterial Treatment of Oral Ulcers.

Zhixiong Yu, Wenlin Qin, Xuanhe Fu, Kebin Xu, Xin Huang, Jinfeng He, Xin Li.

  Recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU) are highly prevalent oral mucosal lesions, while current therapies are limited by short residence time and poor efficacy in the dynamic oral environment. Probiotics such as Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) exhibit antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and tissue-repair functions; however, their direct application is restricted by low stability and retention in the oral cavity. In this study, L. reuteri-loaded sodium alginate/chitosan composite hydrogels were developed via ionic crosslinking as a bioadhesive platform for local delivery. The hydrogels exhibited well-defined porous structures, favorable viscoelastic properties, and tunable swelling and degradation behaviors under simulated physiological conditions. Importantly, the system enabled sustained probiotic release and maintained high viability during 30 days of storage. In vitro antibacterial assays demonstrated that the hydrogels effectively inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Among the formulations, the hydrogel with 10 mg·mL-1 chitosan achieved an optimal balance between structural stability and mass transfer, resulting in enhanced release performance and antibacterial efficacy. Overall, this study presents a microecology-oriented hydrogel system for efficient probiotic delivery in oral environments, offering a promising bioadhesive probiotic delivery platform with potential applications in RAU management and advancing the development of bioactive, mucosa-adaptive therapeutic platforms.

Keywords:  chitosan; hydrogel; probiotic; recurrent aphthous ulcer; sodium alginate

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12070581
Adv Sci (Weinh). 2026 Jul 31. e76768

Engineering a 660 nm-Responsive Optogenetic Inducer of Pyroptosis for Precision Cancer Therapy.

Mengkai Zhang, Zhichao Li, Yonghao Ma, Yangyang Sun, Wei Chen, Weiren Huang.

  Inducing tumor cell pyroptosis represents a promising anticancer strategy; however, uncontrolled pyroptosis not only restricts the production of viral delivery vectors but also poses a risk of systemic damage, thereby limiting the translational application of pyroptosis-based therapies. The development of genetic tools that enable precise spatiotemporal control over pyroptosis remains challenging. To address this, we developed PyroRACS, a bioorthogonal optogenetic inducer for precise pyroptosis induction. PyroRACS utilizes an engineered red-light-activatable Cre-ON genetic switch (RACS) to drive the expression of the gasdermin D N-terminal domain, enabling tunable initiation of pyroptosis without relying on endogenous signaling pathways. We validated robust pyroptosis induction by PyroRACS in multiple cell lines. PyroRACS exhibited high controllability by selectively ablating cancer cells in vitro with precise spatiotemporal resolution. Moreover, its superior controllability enabled the production of the adenovirus vector and allowed "all-in-one" delivery of PyroRACS. In a tumor-bearing mouse model, spatially restricted induction of pyroptosis by PyroRACS resulted in effective tumor suppression, with no detectable systemic toxicity observed under the tested conditions. Collectively, PyroRACS provides a novel optogenetic tool for precise manipulation of pyroptosis, facilitating fundamental research and advancing pyroptosis-based precision oncology therapeutics.

Keywords:  PyroRACS; controllable pyroptosis; optogenetics; precise tumor therapy; synthetic biology

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.76768