bims-enlima Biomed News
on Engineered living materials
Issue of 2025–07–13
twenty-six papers selected by
Rahul Kumar, Tallinna Tehnikaülikool
  1. Controlled Release of Microorganisms from Engineered Living Materials.
  2. Encoding hierarchical 3D architecture through inverse design of programmable bonds.
  3. Genetic Manipulation of Mammalian Cells in Microphysiological Hydrogels.
  4. Self-healing and shape-shifting polymers controlled by dynamic bonds.
  5. Designing the Next Generation of Biomaterials through Nanoengineering.
  6. Predictive Modeling and Experimental Validation of Magnetophoretic Delivery of Magnetic Nanocultures.
  7. Step Test for Rapid Screening of Material and Process Parameters for Resin Development in DLP 3D Printing.
  8. Gel-Gel Interface Engineering for the Synthesis of Anisotropic Hydrogels with Designable Polymer Orientations.
  9. Precise construction of DNA origami-based materials for functional regulation on biological interface.
  10. A 4D Bio-Kirigami Strategy for Engineering Complex Tissue Curvatures.
  11. Sweet or sour? AI-powered device achieves human-like sense of taste.
  12. Oxidation upcycling of polyethylene into degradable, recyclable and high-performance materials.
  13. Sealable capped nanovials for high-throughput screening of cell growth and function.
  14. Assembly of Metalloporphyrin Peptoids into Crystalline Nanomaterials as a Multifunctional System for Biomimetic Catalysis and Sensing.
  15. Bioinspired Multi-Function Conversion Based on Recyclable Phase Change Polymers.
  16. Active light-controlled frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization.
  17. Emergency delivery of particulate drugs by active ejection using in vivo wireless devices.
  18. Changes in Spo0A~P pulsing frequency control biofilm matrix deactivation.
  19. Light-controlled smart materials: Supramolecular regulation and applications.
  20. The Bioinspiration Feedback Loop: an interdisciplinary exchange of processes and progress between biologists and engineers.
  21. High-precision cytosine base editors by evolving nucleic-acid-recognition hotspots in deaminase.
  22. 3D Printing-In Situ Curing of Soft Organogels Using Frontal Polymerizable Inks.
  23. Constructing electrospun 3D liquid metal adhesion channel on stretchable yarns for broad-range strain-insensitivity smart textiles.
  24. Permanent magnetic droplet-derived microrobots.
  25. Digital Light Processing of Methacrylated Silk Fibroin Microneedles: Precision Engineering for Enhanced Transdermal Delivery and Skin Regeneration.
  26. pH-Responsive Peptide-Polymer Hydrogel for Biofilm Disruption.
  1. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2025 Jul 08.
    Controlled Release of Microorganisms from Engineered Living Materials.
    Manivannan Sivaperuman Kalairaj, Iris George, Sasha M George, Sofía E Farfán, Yoo Jin Lee, Laura K Rivera-Tarazona, Suitu Wang, Mustafa K Abdelrahman, Seelay Tasmim, Asaf Dana, Philippe E Zimmern, Sargurunathan Subashchandrabose, Taylor H Ware.
      Probiotics offer therapeutic benefits by modulating the local microbiome, the host immune response, and the proliferation of pathogens. Probiotics have the potential to treat complex diseases, but their persistence or colonization is required at the target site for effective treatment. Although probiotic persistence can be achieved by repeated delivery, no biomaterial that releases clinically relevant doses of metabolically active probiotics in a sustained manner has been previously described. Here, we encapsulate stiff probiotic microorganisms within relatively less stiff hydrogels and show a generic mechanism where these microorganisms proliferate and induce hydrogel fracture, resulting in microbial release. Importantly, this fracture-based mechanism leads to microorganism release with zero-order release kinetics. Using this mechanism, small (∼1 μL) engineered living materials (ELMs) release >108 colony-forming-units (CFUs) of Escherichia coli in 2 h. This release is sustained for at least 100 days. Cell release can be varied by more than 3 orders of magnitude by varying initial cell loading and modulating the mechanical properties of the encapsulating matrix. As the governing mechanism of microbial release is entirely mechanical, we demonstrate the controlled release of model Gram-negative, Gram-positive, and fungal probiotics from multiple hydrogel matrices.
    Keywords:  controlled release; engineered living materials; probiotics; sustained release; zero-order release
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c11155
  2. Nat Mater. 2025 Jul 09.
    Encoding hierarchical 3D architecture through inverse design of programmable bonds.
    Jason S Kahn, Brian Minevich, Aaron Michelson, Hamed Emamy, Jiahao Wu, Huajian Ji, Alexia Yun, Kim Kisslinger, Shuting Xiang, Nanfang Yu, Sanat K Kumar, Oleg Gang.
      The ability to fabricate materials and devices at small scales by design has resulted in tremendous technological progress. However, the need for engineered three-dimensional (3D) nanoscale materials requires new strategies for organizing nanocomponents. Here we demonstrate an inverse design approach for the assembly of nanoparticles into hierarchically ordered 3D organizations using DNA voxels with directional, addressable bonds. By identifying intrinsic symmetries in repeating mesoscale structural motifs, we prescribe a set of voxels, termed a mesovoxel, that are assembled into target 3D crystals. The relationship between different degrees of encoded information used for voxel bonds and the fidelity of assembly is investigated using experimental and computational methods. We apply this assembly strategy to create periodic 3D nanoparticle ordered organizations, including structures with low-dimensional elements, helical motifs, a nanoscale analogue of a face-centred perovskite crystal and a distributed Bragg reflector based on a crystal with plasmonic and photonic length-scale regimes.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-025-02263-1
  3. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2025 Jul 09. e05474
    Genetic Manipulation of Mammalian Cells in Microphysiological Hydrogels.
    Anna C Jäkel, Dong-Jiunn Jeffery Truong, Friedrich C Simmel.
      Engineering functional 3D tissue constructs is essential for developing advanced organ-like systems, with applications ranging from fundamental biological research to drug testing. The generation of complex multicellular structures requires the integration of external geometric and mechanical cues with the ability to activate genetic programs that regulate and stimulate cellular self-organization. Here, it is demonstrated that gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels serve as effective matrices for 3D cell culture, supporting both in situ genetic manipulation and cell growth. HEK293T cells embedded in GelMA remained viable and proliferated over 16 days, forming clusters within the matrix. Efficient gene delivery is achieved in the 3D hydrogel environment using both plasmid DNA and mRNA as gene vectors. Furthermore, in situ prime editing is applied to induce permanent genetic modifications in embedded cells. To achieve spatially confined gene expression, gel-embedded channels are introduced that allowed localized stimulation via doxycycline perfusion through a Tet-On system. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of integrating gene delivery, inducible expression, and spatial control within GelMA-based hydrogels, establishing a versatile framework for engineered 3D cell systems with programmable genetic activity.
    Keywords:  3D cell culture; genome editing; hydrogels; tissue engineering; transfection; vascular channels
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202505474
  4. Smart Mol. 2023 Sep;1(2): e20220009
    Self-healing and shape-shifting polymers controlled by dynamic bonds.
    Shang-Wu Zhou, Chengyuan Yu, Meng Chen, Chen-Yu Shi, Ruirui Gu, Da-Hui Qu.
      Dynamic chemistry refers to a type of fundamental science that involves precise construction or regulation of reactional, motional, or constitutional dynamics of chemical systems. Under the meticulous design of chemists, the nanoscopic dynamics, either molecular or supramolecular, are managed to scale up to macroscopic dynamic properties. For example, the stimuli-induced conformational or configurational changes of polymer skeletons result in unexpected functions of polymers, such as self-healing and shape-shifting behaviors. This review focuses on how the microscopic dynamics of these molecular components initiate the reversible macroscopic deformation of the corresponding polymer materials upon external stimuli. The self-healing and shape-shifting materials are discussed in terms of the subtle molecular design, dynamic reversible mechanisms, and critical roles of the dynamic components in building these materials. Furthermore, this review puts forward the challenges and opportunities for the field of dynamic polymers in both aspects of fundamental chemistry and material fabrication. We hope this review can provide new inspiration for the development of this particular research field.
    Keywords:  dynamers; dynamic bonds; self‐healing; shape‐shifting; supramolecular chemistry
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/smo.20220009
  5. Adv Mater. 2025 Jul 11. e2501761
    Designing the Next Generation of Biomaterials through Nanoengineering.
    Ryan Davis, Ishaan Duggal, Nicholas A Peppas, Akhilesh K Gaharwar.
      Recent advances in biomaterials science have applied nanoengineering to develop biomaterials with superior properties and tailored functionalities. These unique attributes are achieved due to the ability of nanoengineering to provide precise control over material interactions with living systems at the molecular scale. Here, key nanotechnologies employed to develop the next generation of biomaterials are critically evaluated. A diverse range of nanomaterials, differing in base materials, shapes, sizes, or surface properties can be integrated into various fabrication processes to develop these advanced biomaterials. Further investigation is required into properties such as surface energy, defects, porosity, and crystallinity, as these critically influence the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of nanoengineered materials. Consequently, we explore diverse biomedical applications of nanoengineered biomaterials, including regenerative medicine, biomolecular delivery, additive manufacturing, immune engineering, cancer therapeutics, bioimaging, biosensing, antimicrobial devices, and tissue adhesives. Additionally, their current limitations are analyzed and emerging strategies for designing the next generation of nanoengineered biomaterials are highlighted.
    Keywords:  bioimaging; biomaterials; drug delivery; nanoengineering; regenerative medicine
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202501761
  6. ACS Mater Lett. 2025 Jul 07. 7(7): 2679-2685
    Predictive Modeling and Experimental Validation of Magnetophoretic Delivery of Magnetic Nanocultures.
    Rohit Chauhan, Huda Usman, Nitin Minocha, Mehdi Molaei, Tagbo H R Niepa, Meenesh R Singh.
      Magnetophoresis offers a powerful strategy for the targeted delivery of functional microcapsules. Here, we present a combined theoretical and experimental framework to predict the magnetophoretic transport of magnetic nanocultures-microcapsules embedded with magnetic nanoparticles and living cells. We derive a novel analytical expression for the terminal velocity of microcapsules under a spatially decaying magnetic field. The model incorporates magnetic and hydrodynamic forces in low Reynolds number regimes and predicts microcapsule velocity variations with nanoparticle size and field strength. Experimental validation using nanocultures containing nanoparticles 5, 10, and 20 nm in size confirms the model's accuracy, with 10-nm particles showing optimal magnetophoretic response. The model also accounts for hindered motion at high microcapsule densities. This work provides a predictive tool for designing magnetically guided systems for microbial delivery, localization, and patterning, with applications in bioreactors, therapy, and engineered living materials.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.5c00753
  7. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2025 Jul 06. e202504154
    Step Test for Rapid Screening of Material and Process Parameters for Resin Development in DLP 3D Printing.
    Michelle Vigogne, Cosima Aeschbach, Ricardo Bernhardt, Anika Kaufmann, Julian Thiele.
      The success of 3D printing based on vat polymerization by spatially controlled UV light exposure strongly depends on appropriate resins. However, in search of new resins, optimizing a resin's composition as well as its printing parameters can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. To address these challenges, we present a rapid parameter screening that enables efficient evaluation of 24 printing parameter settings within one print focusing on exposure energy, exposure time, and layer thickness as the most crucial process parameters in 3D printing based on digital light processing (DLP). Our step test minimizes the required number of experimental iterations and 3D prints by relying on optical characterization without the need for special analytical devices, making it rapid and accessible for a broad range of users across different disciplines. For a proof of concept, the step test is applied to define optimal printing parameters of three commercial resins and evaluate the polymerization efficiency of two predominantly biobased, noncommercial resins containing either phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide or curcumin as photoinitiators. With that, we introduce a straightforward test that is easy to implement and adaptable to other UV polymerization-based printing methods, speeding up the time from resin screening to optimal printing parameters and products.
    Keywords:  Biobased photoinitiator; DLP 3D printing; Parameter screening; Renewable materials; Step test
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202504154
  8. Adv Mater. 2025 Jul 09. e2505268
    Gel-Gel Interface Engineering for the Synthesis of Anisotropic Hydrogels with Designable Polymer Orientations.
    Tomohiro Takahashi, Naoya Karasawa, Koki Sano.
      Anisotropic hydrogels with designable structural complexity can exhibit sophisticated properties reminiscent of those found in living organisms. However, conventional synthetic methods typically require specific anisotropic additives and complicated processes, limiting design flexibility. Here, a simple and versatile strategy to synthesize anisotropic hydrogels with photo-designable orientations of polymer networks is developed by harnessing a "gel-gel interface," which can be generated through the intentional adhesion between hydrogels. This strategy originates from the serendipitous discovery: when a gel-gel interface is intentionally introduced into a hydrogel through a two-step polymerization, the polymer networks near the interface are spontaneously aligned perpendicular to the interface, as a result of the simultaneous swelling and fixation process during gel-to-gel adhesion. By employing a photo-initiator system to control the gel-gel interface, anisotropic hydrogels with both 2D and 3D designed polymer orientations, as well as anisotropic hydrogels with thermally switchable polymer orientations, are successfully synthesized. The gel-gel interface has long been regarded as merely an undesirable byproduct of gel adhesion, while the complementary bulk region of hydrogels has been the primary focus in constructing anisotropic hydrogels. In contrast, this work demonstrates the utility of the gel-gel interface, expanding design possibilities for next-generation hydrogels with designable structural complexity.
    Keywords:  anisotropic hydrogels; gel adhesion; gel‐gel interfaces; photo‐patterning; polymer orientation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202505268
  9. Smart Mol. 2024 Mar;2(1): e20230032
    Precise construction of DNA origami-based materials for functional regulation on biological interface.
    Yushuai Wu, Xiaohui Wu, Run Tian, Yiming Wang, Baoquan Ding, Qiao Jiang.
      Precise design and control of molecular self-assembly as living creatures are exciting ideas in the field of nanotechnology. Characterized with predesigned geometries and accurate spatial addressability, programmable DNA origami nanostructures have been recognized as optimized tools for assembling multiple functional components. A variety of biomolecules can be attached to the nanoscale drawing boards in a site-specific fashion, thus facilitating the precise construction of DNA origami-based materials for studies on biological interface. In this minireview, we highlight the recent advances in the precise construction of DNA origami-based materials with artificial bio-structures and/or biomimicking functions. The regulation of biological functions by these DNA origami-engineered assemblies at the bio-interface has been summarized and discussed.
    Keywords:  DNA origami; biological application; bio‐interface; self‐assembly
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/smo.20230032
  10. bioRxiv. 2025 Jul 03. pii: 2025.06.28.662122. [Epub ahead of print]
    A 4D Bio-Kirigami Strategy for Engineering Complex Tissue Curvatures.
    Kaelyn L Gasvoda, Aixiang Ding, Alexandria Sterenberg, Oju Jeon, Eben Alsberg.
      Four-dimensional (4D) systems offer a promising approach for generating sophisticated dynamic structures that mimic native tissue architectures. Among those, Kirigami strategies enable precise, localized control over morphing behaviors, yet their application in 4D tissue engineering remains unexplored. Here, we present a bio-Kirigami system that facilitates the creation of dynamic, transformable structures through spatially patterned hydrogels with distinct deformation modes dictated by encoded swelling differentials. The system consists of two biomaterial components: (1) a photocrosslinked hydrogel framework with controlled degradation and swelling behavior that drives the shape transformation and (2) a rigid support hydrogel frame. By leveraging photolithographic patterning, complex structures with continuously evolving configurations were achieved through preprogrammed deformations. Bio- Kirigami hydrogels encapsulating stem cells developed into tissue-like constructs with sophisticated configurations when cultured in tissue-specific environment. Notably, the engineered tissue constructs kept their shape integrity after excision from the outer support, demonstrating a robust platform for achieving intricate tissue curvatures.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.28.662122
  11. Nature. 2025 Jul 09.
    Sweet or sour? AI-powered device achieves human-like sense of taste.
    Katie Kavanagh.
      
    Keywords:  Materials science
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-02158-w
  12. Mater Horiz. 2025 Jul 08.
    Oxidation upcycling of polyethylene into degradable, recyclable and high-performance materials.
    Chengfeng Shen, Xiangyue Wei, Qiang Zhang, Pengbo Ye, Xuehui Liu, Shimei Xu, Yu-Zhong Wang.
      Polyethylene waste was oxidatively converted into hydroxyl-terminated telechelic macromolecules with controlled molecular weights, which were further reconstructed into sustainable materials with enhanced strength, processability, degradability/recyclability, and filler compatibility through dynamic cross-linking. This strategy enables efficient upcycling of PE into sustainable, high-performance polymers, addressing plastic pollution and advancing circular materials.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1039/d5mh00967g
  13. bioRxiv. 2025 Jul 03. pii: 2025.06.29.662236. [Epub ahead of print]
    Sealable capped nanovials for high-throughput screening of cell growth and function.
    Michael Mellody, Yuta Nakagawa, Alyssa Arnheim, Lily Shang, Catherine Soo, Natalie Tsubamoto, Sarah Taylor, Sumedha Shastry, Wesley Luk, Ian Morales, Richard James, Dino Di Carlo.
      Millions of modular nanoliter-scale compartments that isolate functionally rich single-cell and cell-to-cell communication data can scale biological discovery for the age of AI. Here, we introduce capped nanovials-suspendable, sealable microscale compartments formed by the docking of hydrogel capping particles into bowl-shaped nanovials-as a versatile system for culturing, analyzing, and sorting single cells and small colonies. This two-particle architecture enables localized confinement of cells and secreted products while maintaining compatibility with standard laboratory workflows such as wash and reagent exchange steps, fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry. Crucially, these compartments are formed via simple pipetting and centrifugation steps, making the platform highly democratized. We demonstrate the ability of capped nanovials to compartmentalize single mammalian, bacterial, and yeast cells and support growth into colonies, enabling selection based on proliferation and bioproduction. We further show that capped nanovials enhance single-cell secretion assays by reducing molecular crosstalk and increasing signal-to-noise ratios. Importantly, we demonstrate functional co-culture assays by permitting stable confinement of cell pairs, enabling detection and enrichment of antibody-secreting cells based on the ability of their secreted antibodies to activate co-encapsulated reporter T cells, achieving a signal-to-noise ratio of >30 and up to 100% selection purity. By combining the simplicity of standard lab handling with the resolution and throughput of traditional microfluidic compartmentalization approaches, capped nanovials provide a new class of scalable, accessible test tubes for modern single-cell biology.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.29.662236
  14. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2025 Jul 10.
    Assembly of Metalloporphyrin Peptoids into Crystalline Nanomaterials as a Multifunctional System for Biomimetic Catalysis and Sensing.
    Thi Kim Hoang Trinh, Biao Jin, Ronald N Zuckermann, Chun-Long Chen.
      While natural enzymes excel at catalysis and sensing, they often suffer from high cost and low stability in applications outside living systems. Among tremendous efforts made toward the design and synthesis of catalytic biomimetic materials, the approach of using crystalline nanomaterials assembled from sequence-defined polymers has emerged as a promising strategy. Herein, we report the assembly of metalloporphyrin peptoids into crystalline nanomaterials as a multifunctional system for biomimetic catalysis and sensing. The precise spatial positioning of covalently attached porphyrins within crystalline peptoid nanomaterials enables the mimicry of several enzyme active sites, including phosphotriesterase and horseradish peroxidase, for efficient catalytic hydrolysis and oxidation reactions. Additionally, the high programmability of these peptoid crystalline materials enables the creation and tuning of the active site microenvironment for enhanced catalytic activity. We further demonstrate the integration of responsive organic dyes into catalytic peptoid assemblies to achieve both detection and degradation of chemical warfare agent (CWA) mimics, even in the vapor phase. We expect this multifunctional system to provide tremendous opportunities in biomimetic catalysis and sensing, including the detoxification and detection of CWAs.
    Keywords:  biomimetic catalysis; chemical warfare agents; crystalline nanomaterials; metalloporphyrin; molecular sensing; peptoid self-assembly
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c05546
  15. Small. 2025 Jul 11. e2411718
    Bioinspired Multi-Function Conversion Based on Recyclable Phase Change Polymers.
    Hui Xu, Ran Yan, Jun Zhao, Xiaoru Dong, Haokun Yi, Zhuo Li, Limin Wu.
      Biological systems achieve diverse functionalities using a limited set of building blocks through efficient assembly and disassembly processes. However, translating this efficiency into synthetic functional materials remains a challenge, particularly in balancing multifunctionality, recyclability, and performance adaptability. In this work, this is designed phase change polymers featuring dynamic covalent bonds in the main chain and crystalline side chains, enabling the conversion between multiple functionalities via highly efficient polymerization and depolymerization of building blocks. Specifically, a model compound consisting of a poly (lipoic acid) backbone is reported, onto which alkyl side chains are grafted via esterification reactions. The crystallinity of the side chains imparts reversible changes in modulus, adhesion, and optical properties with temperature modulation, allowing for applications such as electronic skin, anti-counterfeiting materials, and shape-memory materials. The dynamic covalent nature of the disulfide bonds within the polymer backbone enables efficient degradation back to monomers under mild acidic conditions, facilitating flexible conversion of materials for various applications. This research provides a new paradigm for the sustainable and economical synthesis of multifunctional materials and the realization of functional transformations between materials.
    Keywords:  function conversion; recyclable polymer; thioctic acid ester
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202411718
  16. Nat Commun. 2025 Jul 08. 16(1): 6291
    Active light-controlled frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization.
    D R Darby, A J Greenlee, R H Bean, D C Fairchild, V C Rodriguez, A L Jansen, S C Gallegos, S P Ramirez, J S Moore, S C Leguizamon, L N Appelhans.
      Frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization (FROMP) is a promising energy-efficient approach to fabricate polymeric materials. Recent advances have demonstrated FROMP for diverse applications, including additive manufacturing, composites, and foams. However, the characteristic properties of the front are currently controlled primarily by varying the resin composition or the environmental conditions. In this work we present an approach to control FROMP of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) using photochemical methods. A photobase generator is used to inhibit FROMP of DCPD with UV light while a photosensitizer and co-initiator are used to accelerate FROMP with blue light, enabling orthogonal active photocontrol of front velocity. In addition, photoinhibition-enabled lithographic patterning of frontal polymerizations is demonstrated. Frontal polymerizations are spatially controlled, redirected, and even split into diverging fronts. This work establishes a foundation for advanced control of frontal polymerizations, enabling innovation in traditional and additive manufacturing, as well as emerging processes like morphogenic manufacturing.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61484-9
  17. Nat Biomed Eng. 2025 Jul 09.
    Emergency delivery of particulate drugs by active ejection using in vivo wireless devices.
    Siddharth R Krishnan, Laura O'Keeffe, Arnab Rudra, Derin Gumustop, Nima Khatib, Claudia Liu, Jiawei Yang, Athena Wang, Matthew A Bochenek, Yen-Chun Lu, Suman Bose, Kaelan Reed, Robert Langer, Daniel G Anderson.
      Rapidly administered emergency drug therapy represents life-saving treatment for a range of acute conditions including hypoglycaemia, anaphylaxis and cardiac arrest. Devices that automate emergency delivery, such as pumps and automated injectors, are limited by the low stability of liquid formulations. In contrast, dry particulate formulations of these drugs are stable but are incompatible with drug pumps and require reconstitution before administration. Here we develop a miniaturized (<3 cm3), lightweight (<2 g), minimally invasive, fully wireless emergency rescue device for the storage and active burst-release of indefinitely stable particulate forms of peptide and hormone drugs into subcutaneous sites for direct reconstitution in interstitial biofluids and rapid (<5 min) therapeutic effect. Importantly, the device delivers drug across fibrotic tissue, which commonly accumulates following in vivo implantation, thereby accelerating systemic delivery. Fully wireless delivery of dry particulate glucagon in vivo is demonstrated, providing emergency hypoglycaemic rescue in diabetic mice. In addition, triggered delivery of epinephrine is demonstrated in vivo. This work provides a platform for the long-term in vivo closed-loop delivery of emergency rescue drugs.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-025-01436-2
  18. PLoS Comput Biol. 2025 Jul 07. 21(7): e1013263
    Changes in Spo0A~P pulsing frequency control biofilm matrix deactivation.
    Cristina S D Palma, Daniel J Haller, Jeffrey J Tabor, Oleg A Igoshin.
      Under starvation conditions, B. subtilis survives by differentiating into one of two cell types: biofilm matrix-producing cells or sporulating cells. These two cell-differentiation pathways are activated by the same phosphorylated transcription factor - Spo0A~P. Despite sharing the activation mechanism, these cell fates are mutually exclusive at the single-cell level. This decision has been shown to be controlled by the effects of growth rate on gene dosage and protein dilution in the biofilm matrix production network. In this work, we explore an alternative mechanism of growth rate-mediated control of this cell fate decision. Namely, using deterministic and stochastic modeling, we investigate how the growth-rate-dependent pulsing dynamics of Spo0A~P affect biofilm matrix deactivation and activation. Specifically, we show that the Spo0A~P pulsing frequency tunes the biofilm matrix deactivation and activation probability. Interestingly, we found that DNA replication is the cell cycle stage that most substantially contributes to the deactivation of biofilm matrix production. Finally, we report that the deactivation of biofilm matrix production is not primarily regulated by the effects of growth rate on gene dosage and protein dilution. Instead, it is driven by changes in the pulsing period of Spo0A~P. In summary, our findings elucidate another mechanism governing biofilm deactivation during the late stages of starvation, thereby advancing our understanding of how bacterial networks interpret dynamic transcriptional regulatory signals to control stress-response pathways.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013263
  19. Smart Mol. 2024 Dec;2(4): e20240036
    Light-controlled smart materials: Supramolecular regulation and applications.
    Zi-Hao Liao, Feng Wang.
      Smart materials serve as the fundamental cornerstone supporting humanity's transition into the intelligent era. Smart materials possess the capability to perceive external stimuli and respond accordingly. Light-controlled smart materials (LCSMs) are a significant category that can sense and respond to light stimuli. Light, being a non-invasive, precisely regulated, and remotely controllable source of physical stimulation, makes LCSMs indispensable in certain application scenarios. Recently, the construction of LCSMs using supramolecular strategies has emerged as a significant research focus. Supramolecular assembly, based on non-covalent bonding, offers dynamic, reversible, and biomimetic properties. By integrating supramolecular systems with photoresponsive molecular building blocks, these materials can achieve synergistic and rich intelligent stimulus responses. This review delves into the latest research advancements in LCSMs based on supramolecular strategies. There are four sections in this review. The first section defines LCSMs and outlines their advantages. The second section discusses the design approaches of supramolecular LCSMs. The third section highlights the latest advancements on supramolecular LCSMs over the past 3 years. The fourth section summarizes the current research and provides insights into the future development of this field.
    Keywords:  intelligent materials; photochemistry; photochromism; photoresponsive materials; supramolecular chemistry
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/smo.20240036
  20. Integr Comp Biol. 2025 Jul 10. pii: icaf128. [Epub ahead of print]
    The Bioinspiration Feedback Loop: an interdisciplinary exchange of processes and progress between biologists and engineers.
    Cassandra M Donatelli, Megan Vandenberg, Lorenzo Martinez, Andrew K Schulz, E W Misty Paig-Tran, Karly E Cohen.
      Nature is an unparalleled innovator, coming up with countless solutions over millions of years. From the microscopic structures of gecko feet that enable effortless climbing to the hydrodynamic efficiency of fish armor, biological systems have evolved to solve a myriad of complex challenges. Engineers have long drawn inspiration from these natural innovations, translating biological principles into new technologies. The process is rarely straightforward-biological structures evolve under constraints and trade-offs, often leading to multifunctional designs that do not conform to traditional engineering approaches. Here, we explore the dynamic exchange between biology and engineering, highlighting how bioinspired design not only informs new technologies but also deepens our understanding of living systems. Bioinspired design plays a crucial role in materials science, robotics, and biomedical sciences, underscoring the need for interdisciplinary collaboration. Existing partnerships between biologists and engineers has led to advances in adhesives, protective materials, filtration systems, and dynamic structural designs. Translating biological complexity into engineered simplicity can be challenging; we need open communication between fields to share methodologies, resources, and discoveries. By fostering a continuous feedback loop between biology and engineering, we can push the boundaries of innovation and discovery, ensuring that bioinspired design remains a driving force in scientific and technological advancement.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icaf128
  21. Nat Biotechnol. 2025 Jul 07.
    High-precision cytosine base editors by evolving nucleic-acid-recognition hotspots in deaminase.
    Yuan Wu, Yu-Lan Xiao, Weixin Tang.
      Base editors (BEs), covalent fusions of a cytosine or adenine deaminase with a nuclease-impaired CRISPR protein, mediate site-specific conversion of C:G to T:A (CBEs) or A:T to G:C (ABEs) in the genome. Existing BEs modify all cytosines or adenines within the editing window, which limits their precision. Here we engineer nucleotide and context specificity of the Escherichia coli transfer RNA-specific adenosine deaminase (TadA) to pinpoint cytosine editing. Strategically sampling multiple nucleic-acid-recognition hotspots through directed evolution, we develop 16 TadA-derived NCN-specific deaminases that cover every possible -1 and +1 context for a target cytosine, providing on-demand deaminase choices for editor customization. We apply these variants to (1) correct disease-associated T:A-to-C:G transitions documented by ClinVar, achieving greater accuracy than conventional CBEs in 81.5% of cases, and (2) model two cancer-driver mutations-KRASG12D (ACC) and TP53R248Q (CCG)-in vitro. Our approach offers a general strategy to access precise base editors for potential clinical applications.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-025-02678-w
  22. Adv Mater. 2025 Jul 07. e2419039
    3D Printing-In Situ Curing of Soft Organogels Using Frontal Polymerizable Inks.
    Qing Li, Ya-Lan Zhao, Hai-Xia Shen, Yong-Chun Hou, Jia-Le Lu, Liangliang Zhu, Su Chen.
      3D printing has gained immense recognition owing to its fascinating ability for rapid prototyping and customization. However, the current methods usually require post-processing (direct ink writing) or continuous energy input (stereolithography) for polymer gel curing. The former lowers the fidelity and integrity of the printed layers, whereas the latter suffers from high energy consumption. To address these issues, a frontal polymerization (FP)-3D printing-in situ-curing method is developed to construct printable and polymerizable inks for acrylate-based monomers and soft organogel materials. Once initiated, no external energy supply is required, which allows for real-time conversion of monomers into polymers within seconds. Thus, the energy requirements are reduced by several orders of magnitude. More importantly, the printed structure is closely bonded, effectively avoiding the collapse and deformation of soft materials. The as-printed organogel is used as an evaporator and achieves a high water-evaporation rate of 3.77 kg m-2 h-1. This FP-3D printing-in situ-curing strategy is an alternative, energy-saving method for fabricating soft materials, enabling high fidelity and integrity of printed patterns with wide applicability.
    Keywords:  3D printing; evaporators; frontal polymerization; in situ curing; organogels
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202419039
  23. Nat Commun. 2025 Jul 10. 16(1): 6362
    Constructing electrospun 3D liquid metal adhesion channel on stretchable yarns for broad-range strain-insensitivity smart textiles.
    Yikun Duan, Zhaoyang Sun, Qiangqiang Zhang, Yalin Dong, Yagai Lin, Dongxiao Ji, Xiaohong Qin.
      Conductive fibers are crucial for smart textiles and wearable electronics, yet achieving satisfactory elasticity is challenging due to the mismatch between the substrate and the conductive material. Herein, we propose an adhesion channeling strategy that enables three-dimensional control of liquid metal (LM) flow on the yarn surface, allowing for the simultaneous deformation of both the LM and the yarn. This approach ensures that the yarns maintain a low resistance of 0.082 Ω/cm and exhibit conductivity stability across a wide strain range, with a resistance change (ΔR/R0) of only 0.703 at 600% strain. The yarn exhibits electrical stability under various mechanical stresses-including twisting, bending, pressing, and large-strain tensile cycling-as well as during washing processes. By modifying the functional materials within the electrospun fibers, we demonstrate the application of the yarns' superior Joule heating effect for intelligent color regulation of fabrics, providing a feasible solution for the advanced design of smart textiles.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61444-3
  24. Sci Adv. 2025 Jul 11. 11(28): eadw3172
    Permanent magnetic droplet-derived microrobots.
    Yuanxiong Cao, Ruoxiao Xie, Philipp W A Schönhöfer, Ross Burdis, Richard Wang, Rujie Sun, Kai Xie, Jiawen Zou, Xin Song, Qiao You Lau, Junliang Lin, Jang Ah Kim, Dimitar Georgiev, Jiyuan Tang, Ho-Cheung Ng, Olga Bibikova, Yuyang Zuo, Xiangrong L Lu, Sharon C Glotzer, Molly M Stevens.
      Microrobots hold substantial potential for precision medicine. However, challenges remain in balancing multifunctional cargo loading with efficient locomotion and in predicting behavior in complex biological environments. Here, we present permanent magnetic droplet-derived microrobots (PMDMs) with superior cargo loading capacity and dynamic locomotion capabilities. Produced rapidly via cascade tubing microfluidics, PMDMs can self-assemble, disassemble, and reassemble into chains that autonomously switch among four locomotion modes-walking, crawling, swinging, and lateral movement. Their reconfigurable design allows navigation through complex and constrained biomimetic environments, including obstacle negotiation and stair climbing with record speed at the submillimeter scale. We also developed a molecular dynamics-based computational platform that predicts PMDM assembly and motion. PMDMs demonstrated precise, programmable cargo delivery (e.g., drugs and cells) with postdelivery retrieval. These results establish a physical and in silico foundation for future microrobot design and represent a key step toward clinical translation.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adw3172
  25. ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2025 Jul 07.
    Digital Light Processing of Methacrylated Silk Fibroin Microneedles: Precision Engineering for Enhanced Transdermal Delivery and Skin Regeneration.
    Fangzheng Tong, Xuyang Zhang, Xuanwen Wang, Siying Liu, Xiaoliang Cui, Yajie Zhou, Gang Li, Jun Zhang.
      Despite the promising potential of digital light processing (DLP)─fabricated silk fibroin (SF) microneedles (MNs) in transdermal applications, their clinical translation faces two major challenges: insufficient manufacturing precision to achieve architectural resolution and inadequate mechanical strength to penetrate the epidermis effectively. To overcome these critical barriers, we developed a methacrylated silk fibroin (Sil-MA) bioink that combines high biocompatibility with enhanced printability. By systematically optimizing material formulation, printing parameters and MN geometry, we successfully fabricated DLP-printed Sil-MA MNs with precise architecture control and superior mechanical performance. These MNs demonstrated no cytotoxicity and enabled efficient transdermal delivery of three distinct dermatological therapeutics. Comprehensive in vitro and in vivo assessments indicated that the DLP-printed Sil-MA MNs also acted as mechanical stimulators, significantly promoting epidermal keratinocyte proliferation. This engineered platform offers a versatile strategy for developing multifunctional MN systems for therapeutic delivery and tissue engineering applications.
    Keywords:  DLP 3D printing; microneedle; printing accuracy; silk fibroin; strength
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.5c00621
  26. ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2025 Jul 06.
    pH-Responsive Peptide-Polymer Hydrogel for Biofilm Disruption.
    Haritha Asokan-Sheeja, Debdatta Das, Jenny N Nguyen, Jiazhu Xu, Md Tareque Hassan Mukut, Tung H Chau, Joseph A Buonomo, Yi Hong, He Dong.
      Biofilm formation presents a significant challenge in chronic infections as it enables bacteria to resist conventional antibiotics and thrive in various areas of the body. The treatment is further hurdled by the acidic environment of biofilms due to anaerobic glycolysis of bacteria and the accumulation of acidic byproducts. Therefore, there is a need for the development of antimicrobial materials that can selectively and preferentially eradicate biofilms in the acidic environment. Toward this aim, this study explores the use of acid-responsive double-network peptide-polymer hydrogels encapsulated with antimicrobial peptides to effectively target and disrupt biofilms. The hydrogel consists of two essential components: a self-assembling peptide nanofiber containing a non-natural ionic amino acid, which imparts pH responsiveness in the weakly acidic range, and a 4-arm PEG polymer that forms covalent bonds with the peptide nanofiber, enhancing the hydrogel's mechanical strength. Upon acidification, peptide nanofibers disassemble, causing an increased pore size of the hydrogel and release of encapsulated antimicrobials to the biofilm site. We expect that, by leveraging the unique properties of the double network self-assembled peptide-PEG hydrogels and the pH-triggered release mechanism, this innovative hydrogel approach may offer a more targeted, effective, and safer treatment option against biofilm-associated infections.
    Keywords:  Self-assembly; antibiofilm activity; non-natural amino acids; pH-responsive hydrogel; peptide−polymer conjugates
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.5c00897
This page is being maintained by Thomas Krichel. It was last updated on 2025‒07‒13 at 7:45.