Ceramic Living Fibers by Electrospinning
Final Report Abstract
Cera-LiFE intended to introduce engineered living ceramic fibers as a new family of engineered living materials (ELMs) through bacterial encapsulation within electrospun polymeric host fiber followed by microbially-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) process. Within a shortened duration, the work plan was modified to at least reach the objectives of the project. The modified work plan resulted in two main outcomes: 1. S. pasteurii bacteria was successfully encapsulated within electrospun polymeric fibers. 2. Living ceramic fiber was successfully demonstrated through biomineralization of the fibers encapsulating S. pasteurii bacteria. Due to time constraints, important characterizations, which were originally planned, could not be performed, including the mechanical properties of the fibers and in situ characterizations. Nevertheless, the outcomes are highly positive and encouraging for further investigation of living ceramic fibers. Furthermore, taking the opportunity of the project, Dr. Islam also assessed the ethical issues related to the emerging field of ELMs with collaborations with experts in ethics and biomedical and biotechnological sciences and further discussed possible roadmaps for ethicsguided ELM research.
Publications
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The ethics of engineered living materials. Trends in Biotechnology, 42(1), 5-9.
Ebbesen, Mette; Korvink, Jan G.; Islam, Monsur & Lantada, Andrés Díaz
