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Abstract Engineered living materials (ELMs) are an emerging class of biohybrid materials with genetically programmable functionalities. Integrating ELMs with 3D bioprinting synergizes their biological programmability with the geometry‐driven functionality of 3D‐printed constructs, transforming these materials into practical products and engineering solutions. This integration also introduces a new paradigm in additive manufacturing that harnesses the “livingness” of encapsulated microorganisms as an active element in the fabrication process to create adaptive and evolving 3D constructs. This Perspective presents recent advances in 3D bioprinting and discusses current developments at the intersection of 3D bioprinting and ELMs. It highlights opportunities at the interface of these two emerging fields, including understanding the interactions between living and nonliving components of ELMs for bioink design, incorporating synthetic biology into bioprinting workflows, utilizing microbial growth as a postprinting fabrication process, and integrating shape‐morphing materials to enable the 4D printing of ELMs.
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Make engineered living materials carry their weight
Material manufacturing accounts for more than 25% of global carbon emissions, primarily due to the manufacture of materials used in construction, vehicles, and machines. Replacement with materials manufactured in a more sustainable manner may greatly reduce energy needs worldwide. One way to reduce the carbon impact of engineering materials is to use living organisms to manufacture and/or maintain or augment material utility – a class of materials known as Engineered Living Materials (ELMs). However, ELMs are a relatively new concept, and several challenges must be overcome before this new class of materials can see broad application. Here, we discuss one of the greatest challenges in designing ELMs that can replace the most carbon intensive engineering materials: the need to achieve sufficient load bearing capacity.
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- PAR ID:
- 10490182
- Publisher / Repository:
- Cell Press
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Matter
- Volume:
- 6
- Issue:
- 11
- ISSN:
- 2590-2385
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 3705 to 3718
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2023.07.023
