bims-livmat 2026-03-01 papers

bims-livmat

Biomed News

on Living materials

Issue of 2026–03–01
twelve papers selected by
Sara Trujillo Muñoz, Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien

Engineered Bacteria as living detectors of tumor DNA: A new diagnostic frontier.
Engineered Escherichia coli as a microbial cell factory for intracellular protein delivery: strains, vectors, mechanisms, and therapeutic applications.
Encapsulation of putative probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lbio1 in sodium alginate matrix: in vitro assessment of its biofunctional properties and survivability.
Formation of a swelling gel underlies a morphological transition in Bacillus subtilis biofilms.
Janus Microgel Robots for Actively Boosting Catalytic Efficiency and Recovery of Living Materials.
Engineering non-exponential proliferation in Escherichia coli using functionalized protein aggregates.
The Impact of Fungal Developmental Structures on Mechanical Properties of Mycelial Materials.
Bacterial ghosts embedded in natural hydrogels as drug delivery vehicles for cancer treatment.
Current Concepts in Probiotic Safety and Efficacy.
Engineered biohybrids for photothermally enhanced chemodynamic-immunotherapy through reprograming immunosuppressive microenvironment and inhibiting immune evasion.
Engineered Probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii Produces Functional Insulin With Long-Acting Effect in Mice Model.
Development and Physicochemical Characterisation of Probiotic Emulsions Containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus for Potential Dermal Applications.

Clin Chim Acta. 2026 Feb 20. pii: S0009-8981(26)00096-3. [Epub ahead of print]586 120914

Engineered Bacteria as living detectors of tumor DNA: A new diagnostic frontier.

Abdolmajid Ghasemian, Ali H Al-Marzoqi, Zahraa A Ali, Fatemeh Nouruzi, Abbas Abdollahi, Zahra Montaseri, Mojtaba Memariani, Elham Zarenezhad.

  The identification of tumor-generated DNA must be accurate, minimally invasive, and precise, as it forms a fundamental aspect of effective cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and customized treatment plans. Recent advances in synthetic biology have pioneered the creation of genetically engineered bacteria as innovative biosensors capable of detecting tumor-derived DNA directly in situ. This review explores key developments in designing these microbial sentinels to pinpoint oncogenic DNA alterations, particularly emphasizing KRAS mutations that drive many cancers. By leveraging natural competence and horizontal gene transfer, in combination with CRISPR-Cas tools for selective targeting and integration of mutant DNA sequences, engineered bacteria can distinguish between tumor and wild-type DNA and produce observable reporter outputs. We further elaborate on various molecular engineering strategies using unique genetic circuits, homologous recombination, multiplexed CRISPR systems and safety circuits to improve specificity, sensitivity and biosafety. An additional perspective in the discussion incorporates diverse bacterial species and various cancer types, with a specific emphasis on colorectal and gastrointestinal cancers, while also considering possible applications to other solid tumors. Detection modalities encompass in vitro assays, organoid models, in vivo mouse models, and non-invasive stool sampling, offering an impressive range of platforms for validating biosensors. The positive aspects of these approaches, such as real-time detection, affordability, programmability, and reduced invasiveness, need to be balanced with their negative aspects concerning biosafety, colonization efficiency, and detection sensitivity limitations. Looking forward, this review delves into the translational potential of engineered bacterial biosensors for clinical cancer diagnostics, their integration with therapeutic delivery systems, and future directions that involve multiplexed detection and the incorporation of digital health. Indubitably, engineered bacterial tumor DNA biosensors represent a key fusion of microbiology, synthetic biology, and oncology, aimed at revolutionizing the diagnosis and management of cancers.

Keywords:  Biosensors; Cancer diagnostics; Engineered bacteria; Theranostics

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2026.120914
Microb Cell Fact. 2026 Feb 26.

Engineered Escherichia coli as a microbial cell factory for intracellular protein delivery: strains, vectors, mechanisms, and therapeutic applications.

Sonia Dangi, Dek Shen Liew, Vetriselvan Subramaniyan, Kumaran Narayanan.



Keywords:  Genetically modified E. coli ; Synthetic biology; Targeted drug delivery; Versatile vectors

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-026-02944-9
Arch Microbiol. 2026 Feb 23. pii: 217. [Epub ahead of print]208(5):

Encapsulation of putative probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lbio1 in sodium alginate matrix: in vitro assessment of its biofunctional properties and survivability.

Nadia Bachtarzi, Mohamed Amine Gomri, Aridj El Yassamine Bouziani, Giulia Bisson, Clara Comuzzi, Marilena Marino.

  The increasing demand for functional foods has stimulated research on probiotic strains with health-promoting properties. This study investigated the biofunctional traits of the putative exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lbio1 and evaluated its survival, both free and encapsulated, under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Safety assessment indicated the absence of haemolytic and gelatinase activities and susceptibility to most tested antibiotics. The strain tolerated acidic pH (2.0) and bile salts (0.3% w/v) with survival rates of 72 and 83%, respectively, and exhibited bile salt hydrolase activity. The strain also grew in 0.1% (v/v) phenol. Adhesion-related properties included high auto-aggregation (92%) and co-aggregation with pathogenic strains (Escherichia coli ATCC 25522, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300, and Micrococcus luteus ATCC 49732), ranging from 43.9 to 71.5%, as well as a biofilm formation capacity, despite exhibiting low hydrophobicity (16%). Cholesterol assimilation reached 82%. The EPS produced by Lbp. plantarum Lbio1 was a high molecular weight heteropolymer composed of glucose and galactose. The encapsulation of Lbp. plantarum Lbio1 in alginate beads (≈ 3 mm, 91% efficiency) efficiently loaded cells, as observed by scanning electron microscopy, and enhanced their survival under simulated gastrointestinal stress. Encapsulated cells retained viability above 10⁶ CFU/g for 34 days at refrigeration temperature, despite a viability loss of approximately 1 log CFU per week. These findings highlight the probiotic potential of Lbp. plantarum Lbio1 and the efficiency of encapsulation in improving bacterial cell survival.

Keywords:   Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ; Biofunctional properties; Encapsulation; Exopolysaccharide

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-026-04770-4
bioRxiv. 2026 Feb 22. pii: 2026.02.20.707077. [Epub ahead of print]

Formation of a swelling gel underlies a morphological transition in Bacillus subtilis biofilms.

Ayantika Saha, Joshua M Jones, Abigail Plummer, Joseph W Larkin.

Microbes across species and environments form biofilms, living materials composed of cells and extracellular polymers. Biofilm-dwelling cells benefit from emergent soft matter physics that sculpts three-dimensional morphologies and osmotically absorbs nutrients. Although biofilms are modeled as viscoelastic gels, the physical origins of the phase transition underlying their conversion from groups of cells to living gels have not been systematically investigated. Here, we show that Bacillus subtilis biofilms use polymer composition to tune their physical properties and drive gel formation. Using imaging and water immersion experiments with matrix knockout strains, we demonstrate the complementary roles of two polymers in this developmental transition: hydrophilic poly- γ -glutamate swells colonies by absorbing water and exopolysaccharides serve as effective cross-linkers, causing a sol-gel-like phase transition that imparts structural integrity. With matrix knockout co-culture biofilms, we independently modulate the production of each polymer and reveal a phase space of biofilm morphologies. Colonies that produce both polymers develop macroscopic wrinkles. A thin-film model predicts biofilm wrinkling from swelling-generated internal strain coupled to elasticity. The model reproduces the shape of our observed morphological phase diagram. Our results demonstrate that bacteria leverage gelation to vary their material properties and morphologies, with implications for microbial ecology and engineering living matter.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.02.20.707077
Research (Wash D C). 2026 ;9 1167

Janus Microgel Robots for Actively Boosting Catalytic Efficiency and Recovery of Living Materials.

Changming Lan, Jing Liang, Jie Xu, Xinxin Wang, Xiao Liu, Yiran Ni, Yingnan Zhou, Ming-Bang Wu, Chao Zhang, Junqiu Liu, Baiheng Wu.

Leveraging living materials such as algae as sustainable photocatalytic platform is highly promising for mitigating antibiotic water pollution; however, they are confronted with low catalytic efficiency and difficulty in recovery, as imposed by their passive, static working mode. Herein, we report a Janus microgel robot (JMR) that features the integration of magnetic-controlled mobility and living photocatalytic function, allowing for substantially boosting antibiotic degradation efficiency and efficient recovery in an actively magnetic-controlled manner. The key to the JMR lies in harnessing gas shear microfluidic technique to manipulate the spatial distribution of TiO2-Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Fe3O4 phases into a Janus architecture, followed by gel encapsulation to prevent cell leakage. Under simulated sunlight, the JMR system achieves 77% antibiotic degradation within 10 h, which is 10 times that of the free C. pyrenoidosa (7.6%). Moreover, we demonstrate that the JMR can be imparted with enhanced degradation efficiency by 10.6% and over 95% effectiveness through 3 consecutive operational cycles in actively magnetic-controlled mode. This work establishes a prototype for sustainable environmental biorobots and provides a novel strategy for photocatalytic-biological hybrid system design, advancing the next-generation living materials for water treatment.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34133/research.1167
Nat Commun. 2026 Feb 21.

Engineering non-exponential proliferation in Escherichia coli using functionalized protein aggregates.

Ronald Van Eyken, Dries Oome, Kevin Broux, Sam Jordens, Abram Aertsen.

Microbes naturally grow exponentially, but this trait might not always be desirable for applications with genetically modified microorganisms. Especially in microorganisms engineered for therapeutic applications, uncurbed exponential proliferation might cause unpredictable liabilities in their behavior that in turn compromise their dosing and biocontainment. In an effort to fundamentally reprogram population growth dynamics, we constructed a bacterial chassis that adheres to linear proliferation for a finite number of generations. More specifically, growth of the chassis is directed by an intracellular protein aggregate that is engineered to reconstitute a split enzyme producing cAMP as a conditionally essential metabolite. Due to the asymmetric segregation and gradual disaggregation of this aggregate, it autonomously keeps growth restricted to the aggregate inheriting cell and to a limited number of divisions. By imposing such a transient and linear growth potential without the need for external intervention, this chassis offers a unique venue for the controlled application of engineered microorganisms.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-69334-y
Eng Life Sci. 2026 Feb;26(2): e70066

The Impact of Fungal Developmental Structures on Mechanical Properties of Mycelial Materials.

Kelsey Gray, Harley Edwards, Alexander G Doan, Walker Huso, JungHun Lee, Wanwei Pan, Nelanne Bolima, Isha Gautam, Tuo Wang, Ranjan Srivastava, Marc Zupan, Mark R Marten, Steven D Harris.

  This study explores how suppressing asexual development in Aspergillus nidulans enhances the mechanical properties of mycelial materials. Using four aconidial mutants (∆brlA, ∆flbA, ∆fluG, and fadAG42R ) lacking asexual development and a control strain (A28) that undergoes typical asexual development, we found that the absence of asexual development significantly improves mechanical strength. All mutants exhibited higher ultimate tensile strength (UTS) than the control, with ∆fluG and ∆brlA (fluffy nonsporulating, FNS phenotype) showing the highest UTS. Additionally, fadAG42R and ∆flbA (fluffy autolytic dominant, FAD phenotype) demonstrated significantly higher strain at failure (SF), linked to increased autolysis and lower dry cell mass compared to the control and FNS mutants. Solid-state NMR analysis suggests that autolysis in FAD mutants may disrupt galactofuranose-related processes, altering cell wall composition and contributing to higher elasticity. These findings suggest suppression of asexual development increases mycelial material strength, while autolysis mechanisms influence elasticity. This research highlights the potential for genetic manipulation in fungi to engineer advanced mycelial-based materials with tailored mechanical properties.

Keywords:  Aspergillus nidulans; asexual development suppression; cell wall composition; engineered living materials (ELMs); mechanical properties

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/elsc.70066
RSC Adv. 2026 Feb 20. 16(12): 10400-10417

Bacterial ghosts embedded in natural hydrogels as drug delivery vehicles for cancer treatment.

Arzanish Mehmood, Sadia Masood, Talha Farooq Khan, Danial Asghar, Ayeesha Mujeeb.

The growing complexity of cancer treatment requires new drug delivery systems that improve the effectiveness of therapy and reduce adverse effects. This study explores the potential of using bacterial ghosts (BGs) in combination with hydrogels to develop a targeted drug delivery system for cancer treatment. BGs, based on non-pathogenic bacteria, offer several distinct advantages, including biocompatibility, maintenance of immunogenicity, and effective encapsulation of therapeutic agents. The BG-hydrogel system enhances stability and controlled release of encapsulated drugs, which enhances the therapeutic window of drugs. Herein, the BGs were loaded with the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) and subsequently encapsulated in four different hydrogels, namely agarose, agar, aloe vera, and sodium alginate, to produce a Bacterial Ghost-Hydrogel System (BG-HS). The BGs, DOX-loaded BGs, hydrogels, and BG-HS morphologies were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), revealing distinct structural features conducive to drug delivery applications. Detailed chemical analysis was conducted using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), confirming the presence of all individual components in the BG-HS. UV-vis spectroscopy demonstrated a pH-responsive drug-release profile attributed to hydrogel ionization in acidic and basic solutions. Compression testing was used to evaluate the mechanical integrity of hydrogels for in vivo applications. Also, a macroscopic diffusion experiment with a model solute (Rhodamine-6B) was performed to identify the hydrogel with the highest transport performance. The study's results indicate that BGs with natural hydrogels, particularly agarose, are a promising approach for future cancer therapy and warrant further preclinical and clinical research.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d6ra00738d
Nutrients. 2026 Feb 21. pii: 696. [Epub ahead of print]18(4):

Current Concepts in Probiotic Safety and Efficacy.

Alexey A Churin, Ludmila O Sokolyanskaya, Anastasia P Lukina, Olga V Karnachuk.

  Background/Objectives: Advances in molecular biology, genetics, and microbiome research have significantly expanded our understanding of probiotic microorganisms and their interactions with human health, stimulating the development of both traditional and next-generation probiotic products. Although probiotics are widely used and generally considered safe for healthy individuals, accumulating evidence indicates that their safety profile varies significantly depending on the strain, dose, host, and context, with rare but clinically significant adverse events reported in vulnerable populations. Methods: This review summarizes current knowledge on the efficacy and safety of probiotics, analyzes limitations in clinical safety reporting, and compares regulatory frameworks governing the use of probiotics as dietary supplements, medicinal products, and live biotherapeutics. Particular attention is given to new genomic and computational approaches to safety assessment. Conclusions: Overall, the review emphasizes the need for coordinated regulation, rigorous clinical evidence, and integrated, modern safety assessment strategies to support the responsible expansion of probiotic use.

Keywords:  artificial intelligence; big data; lactobacilli; live biotherapeutic products; probiotic safety; probiotics; regulatory control

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18040696
J Colloid Interface Sci. 2026 Feb 21. pii: S0021-9797(26)00324-3. [Epub ahead of print]713 140147

Engineered biohybrids for photothermally enhanced chemodynamic-immunotherapy through reprograming immunosuppressive microenvironment and inhibiting immune evasion.

Shujing Xu, Yuewei Li, Jiansen Li, Zhangzhi Song, Suixin Xing, Guocheng Wang, Xinyu Dai, Chunfeng Zhu, Sheng Wang.

  The therapeutic effect of chemodynamic-immunotherapy is limited by the insufficient hydroxyl radical generation and immunesuppressive tumor microenvironment. Here, an engineered Escherichia coli was designed to co-express lactate oxidase (LOX) and programmed death 1 (PD1) protein on its surface. Then the engineered bacteria were modified with copper sulfide nanoparticles to develop the biohybrid (denoted as BLPC). The LOX expressed on BLPC could consume lactate to generate hydrogen peroxide. Under near-infrared light irradiation, the photothermal effect of copper sulfide nanoparticles can further promote the efficacy of the Fenton reaction and enhance chemodynamic therapy, thereby inducing effective immunogenic cell death and activating immune responses. At the same time, the consumption of lactate could reverse immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, PD1 protein expressed on BLPC would inhibit immune evasion by blocking the programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1)/PD1 pathway, further enhancing the immunotherapy. Therefore, this engineered biohybrid provided a promising strategy for multimodal therapy of triple-negative breast cancer.

Keywords:  Chemodynamic therapy; Engineered bacteria; Immunogenic cell death; Immunotherapy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2026.140147
Biotechnol J. 2026 Feb;21(2): e70197

Engineered Probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii Produces Functional Insulin With Long-Acting Effect in Mice Model.

Jefferson J Feng, Di Yu, Lydia Nyasae, Rachel Lee, Fenfen Zhou, Yongrong Zhang, Hua Yu.

  Diabetes mellitus affects over 500 million people globally, with current insulin therapies relying on subcutaneous injections that compromise the liver's natural role in glucose regulation and suffer from poor patient compliance. Oral insulin delivery offers a physiological alternative but faces challenges, including gastrointestinal degradation and poor absorption. Here, we engineered Saccharomyces boulardii, a probiotic yeast with established gastrointestinal survival capabilities, to secrete a long-acting Insulin-Fc fusion protein (Ins/Fc). Using strong constitutive promoters (TDH3 and TEF1), we achieved stable expression in lead strains FZ030 and FZ032. The secreted Ins/Fc fusion protein demonstrated functional bioactivity in cultured cells and in diabetic mice. This represents the first successful engineering of S. boulardii to produce a functional insulin and establishes a promising platform for developing oral insulin delivery systems.

Keywords:  Saccharomyces boulardii; bioactivity; diabetes; insulin; oral delivery; probiotics

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/biot.70197
Pharmaceutics. 2026 Feb 03. pii: 199. [Epub ahead of print]18(2):

Development and Physicochemical Characterisation of Probiotic Emulsions Containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus for Potential Dermal Applications.

Monika Gasztych, Ruth Dudek-Wicher, Dawid Brzozowski, Arleta Dołowacka-Jóźwiak, Witold Musiał.

  Background/Objectives: This study evaluated how variations in emulsion composition influence the viability of a probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG within biphasic systems, as well as the overall stability of the resulting formulations. Methods: Eight biphasic emulsions were prepared, each in two versions-with and without a preservative-and subsequently analysed for pH, FTIR spectroscopy, and emulsion type. The viability of L. rhamnosus GG in each formulation was determined using the plate count method. This method is regarded as the reference technique for the quantitative determination of viable bacteria, expressed as colony-forming units (CFUs). Results: The pH indicated that an emulsion with a pH of 4.65 provides the most favorable conditions for L. rhamnosus GG survival, as values below pH 6 promote its proliferation. This acidity aligns with the natural pH of human skin, although it falls slightly below the recommended 4-5 range for topical formulations. FTIR analysis confirmed the structural stability of the emulsions and revealed spectral shifts attributable to the presence of the bacteria. The spectra remained largely consistent throughout the study period, demonstrating good temporal stability. Conclusions: Microbiological evaluation showed that all produced formulations supported bacterial growth, the presence of the preservative did not inhibit viability of L. rhamnosus GG, corroborating findings from an independent assessment. All emulsions were classified as O/W systems, due to the high water content which is advantageous for microbial viability. Furthermore, O/W emulsions are user-friendly, easy to remove, limit the penetration of the active component into deeper skin layers, supporting their suitability for probiotic-based topical applications.

Keywords:  Lactobacillus rhamnosus; biphasic systems; emulsion stability; topical probiotics

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18020199