In this contribution, we describe programmable living materials constructed with a dynamic covalent interface between rationally-designed telechelic block copolymers and engineered B. subtilis cells. This work sets the first example of (1) bottom-up approach to design and synthesize well-defined polymers for living materials, (2) integrating living cells into designs of synthetic polymeric materials via dynamic covalent bond formation at the interface, (3) effective confinement of engineered B. subtilis, and (4) living materials where encased living cells can be retrieved for biological analyses. Applications of these materials include (1) on-demand synthesis and elution of recombinant proteins from living materials with effective cellular confinement, (2) genetically-encoded biosensing of small molecules, and (3) on-demand release of encased B. subtilis for quantitative analysis. This work (1) advances the current capabilities in engineered living materials, (2) establishes the groundwork for building a wide range of synthetic polymeric materials integrating engineered living cells, (3) opens a new possibility of living materials useful for protein drug delivery, and (4) provides a platform for understanding the biology of cells confined within materials.

Programmable living materials constructed with dynamic covalent interface between synthetic polymers and engineered B. subtilis

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