Biogenic Chip: Designing Synthetic Microbial Communities to Control the Spatiotemporal Synthesis of Chalcogenide Semiconductors
Abstract
Microbes synthesize and hierarchically assemble extracellular nanostructures, with precise control over their composition, crystallography, and functional properties. Controlling the pathways involved in nanostructure formation with the tools of synthetic biology would enable programmable cellular systems capable of building nanostructured materials. Our work will leverage recent advances in synthetic biology and microfabrication to regulate the spatiotemporal dynamics of nanomaterial synthesis. Microfabrication techniques will direct the spatial distribution of cells programmed to construct nanomaterials in response to external inputs and cell-cell signaling. Several pathways involved in metal reduction will be incorporated into these cells to tailor the composition and properties of these nanostructures. To design a synthetic microbial system to construct a network of chalcogenide nanowires, we will: 1. Identify the fundamental mechanisms (reductases and nucleation sites) leading to chalcogenide synthesis by Shewanella using As2S3 as a model system, and quantify the optoelectronic properties of these nanostructures. 2. Engineer new bacterial strains capable of programmable chalcogenide synthesis, by regulating expression of metal reducing genes from Shewanella using genetic control circuits developed for synthetic biology. 3. Expand to synthesis of Se- and Te- based compositions, including AsxSey, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, by taking advantage of bacterial chalcogen reductases and metal (i.e. Cd) resistance pathways, in both natural and engineered strains. 4. Spatially pattern biogenic networks of chalcogenides nanostructures to extend over chip surfaces. Pattern formation will be controlled by designing surface topologies to direct the spatial distribution and activity of cells containing genetic circuits which regulate nanofiber synthesis genes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141512573
Entities
People
- James Q Boedicker
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Southern California