Scalable fabrication of biohybrid materials for environmental performance

Animate materials are capable of adapting and responding to environmental challenges Two mechanisms are currently proposed to realise animate materials. Biohybrid structures encapsulate cells within non-living matrices, adding a geometric dimension to immobilisation. In this way they can modulate the functional performance of the material in some manner, or even form or assemble the composite itself. Through the integration of living systems, the very substance of our built environment could perform active roles in carbon dioxide uptake or remediation of pollution, generation of electricity via biophotovoltaics or creation of microbiome-enhancing green infrastructures for ecosystem services.

Aims of the Research:

This interdisciplinary project seeks to purpose and coordinate new techniques around the synthesis and fabrication of living materials for design. The aim is to shape self-sustaining biological systems that are consistent with the affordances of automation to enable a distributed bio-programmable built environment. Through the integration of approaches from biochemical engineering, design and manufacturing we will create new forms of bioreactor compatible with hosting microbial consortia for environmental applications. The goal is to employ advanced fabrication methodologies for the creation of living "metamaterials"- whereby emergent properties derive from both biochemical composition, as well as the inner geometric structure and outer surface morphology of composites.

Objectives:

1. Survey of materials for the creation of biohybrid materials and investigation of of new fabrication techniques for their scale up
2. Creation of a model system to examine in-situ vs ex-situ performance of a biohybrid material
3. Evaluate the biohybrid material to an environmental challenge e.g. recovery of heavy metals or remediation of organic wastes