Linking physical properties of micellar hydrogels to engineered living material performance
Engineered living materials offer promising avenues for sustainable bioproduction, yet a limited understanding of structure–property relationships hinders their development. Our study focuses on characterising 3D printable, photocurable micellar polymer networks to enhance the development of enginee...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Materials & Design |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525007671 |
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| Summary: | Engineered living materials offer promising avenues for sustainable bioproduction, yet a limited understanding of structure–property relationships hinders their development. Our study focuses on characterising 3D printable, photocurable micellar polymer networks to enhance the development of engineered living materials as bioproduction platforms. We analyse the physical properties of three distinct UV-crosslinked micellar hydrogels (F127-DMA, F127-BUM, and PGE-DMA), focusing on swelling behaviour, substrate and product diffusion and mechanical properties. By combining in silico simulations with scanning electron microscopy, we illuminate the mechanical interactions between the matrix and the cells during yeast colony expansion within the matrix. Linking these material parameters to the performance of the corresponding engineered living materials allows us to establish a baseline for future material development and identify key areas for improvement. |
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| ISSN: | 0264-1275 |