Design the Future 2
Lead Research Organisation:
Northumbria University
Department Name: Fac of Health and Life Sciences
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
| MENG ZHANG (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Arnardottir TH
(2021)
Turbulent Casting: Bacterial Expression in Mineralized Structures
Dade-Robertson M
(2018)
Design and modelling of an engineered bacteria-based, pressure-sensitive soil.
in Bioinspiration & biomimetics
Guyet A
(2018)
Mild hydrostatic pressure triggers oxidative responses in Escherichia coli.
in PloS one
Rodriguez Corral J
(2020)
Agarose gel as a soil analogue for development of advanced bio-mediated soil improvement methods
in Canadian Geotechnical Journal
| Title | Can we grow a city? |
| Description | Film was made for virtual exhibition for Venice Biennale in the theme of City X. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | N/A |
| Title | Catalytic Cell & Bacteria Sculpting, Exhibited at Global Community Biosummit. MIT Media Lab, Boston, USA. |
| Description | PhD student presented the material samples made from MICCP process and bioreactor specially designed to facilitate the Bactria sculpting |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Impact | The research group ate invited to participate Biodesign Challenge 2020 |
| Title | Yggdrasil. Exhibited at the Biodesign: Here Now. London Design Festival 2019. OpenCell, London |
| Description | PhD student presented the material samples produced through MICCP process, and the bioreactor specially designed and made to facilitate bacteria sculpting |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Impact | The group is invited for collaboration with UCL. |
| Description | We have established several new methods and produce some preliminary data 1) Cementing sand through MICCP through specially designed bioreactor. 2) Hydrogel system has been developed in investigate the Calcite growth from MICCP process along with bacterial growth 3) Established the Kay principals for urease regulation in bacterial cells 4) Designed and create novel pressure vessel to study the bacterial response for mechanical pressure 5) Preliminary data on bacterial response to pressure |
| Exploitation Route | It is still early stage. The novel bioreactor approach may be adapted to others to produce biocement. The pressure response also can be applied in other researchers. |
| Sectors | Construction,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | Expanding Excellence in England |
| Amount | £8,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Department | Research England |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2019 |
| End | 07/2022 |
| Description | RDF PhD studentship |
| Amount | £51,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Northumbria University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2018 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Title | Hydrogel system for investigating the calcite crystal growth along with bacterial growth |
| Description | The traditional research on crystal growth from MICCP often was performed in liquid solution and/or soil samples. We developed a new system that the growth of crystals can be monitored and measured timely along with bacterial cells growth. This system will significantly contribute to the researcher's understanding the MICCP process at the Macro Level. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | A manuscript is prepared for publication |
| Title | New pressure vessel was designed and created to facilitate the investigation of bacterial response to mechanical pressure |
| Description | New vessel was designed enable the multiple sample can be tested at same time. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The vessel has been used for transcriptomic study on bacterial response to pressure. We have got preliminary data on this study and aim to submit a manuscript on this work by end of this year. |
| Description | Improving the strength of the world's first bio-brick grown from human urine by adaptation and isolation of microbial isolates |
| Organisation | University of Cape Town |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is an initial pilot research enabled by the work have been done on the the urease activation and enzyme activities by our team |
| Collaborator Contribution | They will lead on the novel method using human urine waste as urease substrate to induce calcite precipitation to form bricks |
| Impact | Project is yet to start |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Exhibition in SynBioBeta's Built With Biology Global Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Built with Biology Conference is an annual event that brings together scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to discuss the latest advances in synthetic biology and its applications. The conference aims to promote collaboration and innovation in the field of synthetic biology by providing a platform for participants to share their research, ideas, and perspectives. There were over 1000 participates from high school students from bay areas to undergraduates from all over the world, to researchers in a wide range of areas related to synthetic biology, including gene editing, biomanufacturing, and biomaterials. We presented research outcome and small biocement samples in the conference and had the opportunity to describe the projects to the wide audience and to network with other professionals who share their interests and goals in the using synthetic biology in developing sustainable and socially responsible solutions to climate change. We have also drew attention from research investors and funders and we are still in the process to develop funding application which built on the research outcome from this project. We also had undergraduates and school students ask for the opportunity to perform research with our group |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.synbiobeta.com/attend/conference-2021/conference-2022-schedule |
| Description | Exhibition in Biofabriate Summuit 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Biofabricate Summit brought together people in creative industries and biotech for an in-person, two-day event that explores innovation in biomaterials and biodesign. PI on Thinking Soils were invited to present work we do including some aspect from Design the future project. We also brought our cementitious materials in the curated exhibition. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Material Research Exchange 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Attended the exchange events with the information stall and posters presenting ' Thinking Soils' project output including research data and material samples. During the events, the project attract Hugh amount of industrial interests, and several contracts have been established for potential collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.materialsresearchexchange.co.uk/ |
| Description | Oral presentation on the Biotechnology for Construction Materials |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to present in 'Biotechnology for Net Zero Construction' online seminar. I presented some results from this project. Following the presentation, a UK SME reached out for conversion, and this led to the submission for an Innovate UK grant. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |