Journal Article

Living materials fabricated via gradient mineralization of light-inducible biofilms

Wang, Yanyi, Yu, Yi, Zhong, Chao, An, Bolin, Zhang, Xiuli, Pu, Jiahua, Cao, Yi, Xue, Bin, Huang, Yuanyuan

2021

Overview

Living organisms have evolved sophisticated cell-mediated biomineralization mechanisms to build structurally ordered, environmentally adaptive composite materials. Despite advances in biomimetic mineralization research, it remains difficult to produce mineralized composites that integrate the structural features and ‘living’ attributes of their natural counterparts. Here, inspired by natural graded materials, we developed living patterned and gradient composites by coupling light-inducible bacterial biofilm formation with biomimetic hydroxyapatite (HA) mineralization. We showed that both the location and the degree of mineralization could be regulated by tailoring functional biofilm growth with spatial and biomass density control. The cells in the composites remained viable and could sense and respond to environmental signals. Additionally, the composites exhibited a maximum 15-fold increase in Young’s modulus after mineralization and could be applied to repair damage in a spatially controlled manner. Beyond insights into the mechanism of formation of natural graded composites, our study provides a viable means of fabricating living composites with dynamic responsiveness and environmental adaptability. Coupling light-inducible bacterial biofilm formation with hydroxyapatite mineralization enables the synthesis of living patterned and gradient composite biomaterials with control over the degree of mineralization and the ability to self-heal.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group US,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 631/326/41 / 631/92/469 / 631/92/552 / 639/301/54 / Adaptability / Adhesins, Bacterial - genetics / Adhesins, Bacterial - metabolism / Adhesins, Bacterial - radiation effects / Animals / Biochemical Engineering / Biochemistry / Biocompatible Materials - chemistry / Biocompatible Materials - metabolism / Biocompatible Materials - radiation effects / Biofilms / Biofilms - growth & development / Biofilms - radiation effects / Biomaterials / Biomedical materials / Biomimetic materials / Biomimetic Materials - chemistry / Biomimetic Materials - metabolism / Biomimetic Materials - radiation effects / Biomimetics / Biomineralization - radiation effects / Bioorganic Chemistry / Cell Biology / Cell Engineering - methods / Chemistry / Chemistry and Materials Science / Chemistry/Food Science / Composite materials / Coupling / Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation / Durapatite - chemistry / Escherichia coli - genetics / Escherichia coli - metabolism / Escherichia coli - radiation effects / Escherichia coli Proteins - genetics / Escherichia coli Proteins - metabolism / Escherichia coli Proteins - radiation effects / Gene Expression / Hydroxyapatite / Light / Mechanical properties / Mineralization / Modulus of elasticity / Mytilus / Proteins - genetics / Proteins - metabolism / Proteins - radiation effects / Recombinant Fusion Proteins - genetics / Recombinant Fusion Proteins - metabolism / Recombinant Fusion Proteins - radiation effects