Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists have developed a new method for 3D printing living microbes in controlled patterns, expanding the potential for using engineered bacteria to recover rare-earth metals, clean wastewater, detect uranium, and more.
Through a novel technique that uses light and bacteria-infused resin to produce 3D-patterned microbes, the research team successfully printed artificial biofilms resembling the thin layers of microbial communities prevalent in the real world. The research team suspended the bacteria in photosensitive bioresins and “trapped” the microbes in 3D structures using LED light from the LLNL-developed Stereolithographic Apparatus for Microbial Bioprinting (SLAM) 3D printer. The projection stereolithography machine can print at high resolution on the order of 18 microns — nearly as thin as the diameter of a human cell.
In the paper, which appears online in the journal Nano Letters, researchers proved the technology can be used effectively to design structurally defined microbial communities. They demonstrated the applicability of such 3D-printed biofilms for uranium biosensing and rare-earth biomining applications and showed how geometry influences the performance of the printed materials.
“We are trying to push the edge of 3D microbial culturing technology,” said principal investigator and LLNL bioengineer William “Rick” Hynes. “We think it’s a very under-investigated space and its importance is not well understood yet. We’re working to develop tools and techniques that researchers can use to better investigate how microbes behave in geometrically complex, yet highly controlled conditions. By accessing and enhancing applied approaches with greater control over the 3D structure of the microbial populations, we will be able to directly influence how they interact with each other and improve system performance within a biomanufacturing production process.”
While seemingly simple, Hynes explained that microbial behaviors are actually extremely complex, and are driven by spatiotemporal characteristics of their environment, including the geometric organization of microbial community members. How microbes are organized can affect a range of behaviors, such as how and when they grow, what they eat, how they cooperate, how they defend themselves from competitors and what molecules they produce, Hynes said.
Previous methods for producing biofilms in the laboratory have provided scientists with little control over microbial organization within the film, limiting the ability to fully understand the complex interactions seen in bacterial communities in the natural world, Hynes explained. The ability to bioprint microbes in 3D will allow LLNL scientists to better observe how bacteria function in their natural habitat, and investigate technologies such as microbial electrosynthesis, in which “electron-eating” bacteria (electrotrophs) convert surplus electricity during off-peak hours to produce biofuels and biochemicals.
Currently, microbial electrosynthesis is limited because interfacing between electrodes (usually wires or 2D surfaces) and bacteria is inefficient, Hynes added. By 3D printing microbes in devices combined with conductive materials, engineers should achieve a highly conductive biomaterial with a greatly expanded and enhanced electrode-microbe interface, resulting in much more efficient electrosynthesis systems.
Biofilms are of increasing interest to industry, where they are used to remediate hydrocarbons, recover critical metals, remove barnacles from ships and as biosensors for a variety of natural and man-made chemicals. Building on synthetic biology capabilities at LLNL, where bacterium Caulobacter crescentus was genetically modified to extract rare-earth metals and detect uranium deposits, LLNL researchers explored the effect of bioprinting geometry on microbial function in the latest paper.
In one set of experiments, researchers compared the recovery of rare-earth metals in different bioprinted patterns and showed that cells printed in a 3D grid can absorb the metal ions much more rapidly than in conventional bulk hydrogels. The team also printed living uranium sensors, observing increased fluorescence in the engineered bacteria when compared to control prints.
“The development of these effective biomaterials with enhanced microbial functions and mass transport properties has important implications for many bio-applications,” said co-author and LLNL microbiologist Yongqin Jiao. “The novel bioprinting platform not only improves system performance and scalability with optimized geometry, but maintains cell viability and enables long-term storage.”
LLNL researchers are continuing to work on developing more complex 3D lattices and creating new bioresins with better printing and biological performance. They are evaluating conductive materials such as carbon nanotubes and hydrogels to transport electrons and feed-bioprinted electrotrophic bacteria to enhance production efficiency in microbial electrosynthesis applications. The team also is determining how to best optimize bioprinted electrode geometry for maximizing mass transport of nutrients and products through the system.
“We are only just beginning to understand how structure governs microbial behavior and this technology is a step in that direction,” said LLNL bioengineer and co-author Monica Moya. “Manipulating both the microbes and their physiochemical environment to enable more sophisticated function has a range of applications that include biomanufacturing, remediation, biosensing/detection and even development of engineered living materials — materials that are autonomously patterned and can self-repair or sense/respond to their environment.”
News
A New Cognitive Compartmentalization with Neural Implants
KEY POINTS Neuralink's demo introduces "cognitive compartmentalization," enabling simultaneous cognitive tasks. This signifies a potential expansion in human cognitive abilities, enhancing multitasking and creativity. Raises concerns about cognitive overload and the merging of physical [...]
Global Warming and Plastic Pollution Are Inextricably Trapped in a “Vicious Circle”
Typically viewed as unrelated problems, global warming and plastic pollution are instead inextricably trapped in a “vicious circle” where one feeds the other, researchers in Sweden report in Nature Communications. The mutually-reinforcing relationship escalates global [...]
Primordial Fuel: Uncovering Hydrogen’s Role at the Origin of Life
Hydrogen gas, dubbed the energy of the future, has been providing energy since 4 billion years ago. A recent study reveals how hydrogen gas, often touted as the energy source of tomorrow, provided energy [...]
COVID-19 Had a Much Greater Impact on Life Expectancy Than Previously Thought
A recent study published in The Lancet never-before-seen unprecedented details on the exceptionally high death rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic both within nations and internationally. Regions including Mexico City, Peru, and Bolivia experienced some of the most [...]
Molecular Majesty: This Is How the Body’s Building Blocks Are Made
Human cells contain ribosomes, a complex machine that produces proteins for the rest of the body. Now the researchers have come closer to understanding how the ribosome works. “It is amazing that we can [...]
U.S. issue warning about return of potentially deadly virus
The American South has been under constant duress from extreme weather events spurred by rising global temperatures, but the region could face a different kind of threat that it hasn't experienced in over a century: yellow fever. [...]
Climate Change Ignites Global Infectious Disease Alarm
Experts highlight the connection between climate change and infectious diseases, urging medical professionals to prepare for new disease patterns and advocate for climate action. A team of infectious diseases experts called for more awareness [...]
How Lignin Nanoparticles Enhance UV Protection in Sunscreen Formulas
The innovative realm of cosmetic science has recently spotlighted lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) for their exceptional potential in fortifying sun protection measures within skincare products. These nanoparticles are celebrated for their superior ability to block [...]
mRNA lipid nanoparticles for next-generation oral cancer tumor suppressor therapy
A study aiming to develop a lipid nanoparticles (LNP) platform for treating oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) utilizing p53 mRNA was presented at the 102nd General Session of the IADR, which was held in conjunction [...]
Scientists have literally cut HIV out of cells
HIV has been completely eliminated from cells in a laboratory, raising hopes of a future cure. Researchers completed the revolutionary task by using a gene-editing tool known as Crispr-Cas, which won the Nobel Prize in 2020, [...]
Common Medication Could Save Half a Million Lives Each Year – So Why Isn’t It?
A recent study conducted by scientists at the University of Southern California sheds light on the reasons why children are not receiving an affordable and effective diarrhea treatment. Medical professionals in developing nations are [...]
X Marks the Spot: AI’s Treasure Maps Lead to Early Disease Detection
Medical diagnostics expert, doctor’s assistant, and cartographer are all fair titles for an artificial intelligence model developed by researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. Their new model accurately identifies tumors [...]
Scientists Discover Method To Identify Alzheimer’s Disease Before It Progresses to Dementia
Researchers at Aarhus University have discovered a method to identify Alzheimer’s disease before it progresses to dementia, potentially opening up new avenues for treatment. A groundbreaking study could pave the way for early detection [...]
Startling Discovery: COVID-19 Virus Can Stay in the Body More Than a Year After Infection
The COVID-19 virus can persist in the blood and tissue of patients for more than a year after the acute phase of the illness has ended, according to new research from UC San Francisco that offers potential [...]
New bioengineered protein design shows promise in fighting COVID-19
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists have been racing to develop effective treatments and preventatives against the virus. A recent scientific breakthrough has emerged from the work of researchers aiming to combat [...]
Sugar-coated gold nanoparticles can quickly eliminate bacterial infections, no antibiotics required
If left to their own devices, bacteria on our teeth or wounded skin can encase themselves in a slimy scaffolding, turning into what is called biofilm. These bacteria wreak havoc on our tissue and, [...]