Engineered Living Materials: The Future of Sustainable Construction?

Imagine a world where buildings and structures possess the remarkable ability to heal themselves, respond intelligently to their environment, and even grow from a mere fraction of the material typically required. This vision, once confined to the realm of science fiction, is edging closer to reality with the advent of engineered living materials.

Engineered Living Materials Could Be the Future of Sustainable Engineering

What are engineered living materials?

These innovative materials represent a groundbreaking fusion of biology and engineering. They incorporate living cells, such as bacteria or fungi, within a synthetic framework or, in some cases, consist entirely of cells and the biopolymers they generate. This unique composition imbues these materials with extraordinary properties like self-healing, adaptability, and the potential for growth, opening up a realm of possibilities across various industries.

The Potential of Engineered Living Materials

While the field of engineered living materials is still in its nascent stages, the potential applications are vast and captivating. Imagine self-repairing building exteriors that autonomously mend cracks and fissures, or responsive infrastructure that adapts to changing environmental conditions, ensuring longevity and resilience. Further down the line, envision sustainable materials that can be cultivated on-site from locally available resources, minimising transportation needs and environmental impact.

One of the major hurdles in harnessing the power of living cells in construction lies in maintaining optimal conditions for their growth and functionality. Bacteria, for instance, thrive within specific temperature ranges, and exposure to fluctuations in outdoor environments can impede their growth and disrupt the material's performance. A team of researchers at Caltech has made significant strides in addressing this challenge by developing a bacteria-based material capable of utilising sunlight to regulate its own temperature. This ingenious approach allows the bacteria to remain healthy and the material fully functional, even amidst the unpredictable temperature swings of the external world.

The Science Behind It

The Caltech team chose E. coli, a well-studied and generally safe bacterium, as the living component of their material. They engineered the bacteria to produce a black pigment in response to cooler temperatures, enabling them to absorb sunlight and generate warmth. This remarkable adaptation empowers the bacteria to thrive in a wider range of temperatures, significantly expanding the potential applications for these materials.

E.Coli is a well studied bacteria that lives in our gut biome

The vision of a sustainable future where buildings and infrastructure can be cultivated and maintained with minimal environmental impact is particularly compelling. Engineered living materials could play a crucial role in realisng this vision, particularly in remote or resource-constrained areas. Imagine constructing structures on-site using locally sourced nutrients and water, minimising the need for transportation and reducing carbon emissions.

A Sustainable Future

While the promise of engineered living materials is undeniable, significant challenges remain before they become a staple of our built environment. Ongoing research is focused on engineering cells to efficiently harness nutrients from their surroundings, thereby reducing production costs and enhancing their practicality. Moreover, unraveling the intricate interplay between different cellular functions is essential for developing materials with multiple capabilities, such as self-healing, adaptability, and even the ability to generate electricity or filter pollutants.

As research in this field continues to advance, we can anticipate the emergence of even more sophisticated materials with enhanced properties and a broader spectrum of applications. These engineered living materials have the potential to revolutionise not only the construction industry but also fields like healthcare, environmental remediation, and even fashion, heralding a new era of sustainable and responsive technologies.

The scientific team at CalTech have made huge strides in the area of engineered living materials

The future of engineered living materials is one of boundless possibilities. With each breakthrough, we inch closer to a world where the built environment seamlessly integrates with the natural world, fostering a more sustainable and harmonious future for generations to come.

Learn how ENX's sustainable planning and designing harmonizes with the environment, reduces energy consumption, and promotes healthier living.