Self-disclosing protective materials using synthetic gene networks

使用合成基因网络的自我披露保护材料

• 批准号: EP/N026683/1
• 负责人: Thomas Howard
• 金额: $ 83.24万
• 依托单位: Newcastle University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2016 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FN026683%2F1
• 关键词: Self; disclosing; protective; materials; using

Materials that have the ability to accurately report their current condition or their historical exposure to chemical, biological or other events, offer immense value in enhancing the decision making capabilities of the user. This may be, for example, a fabric that changes colour in the presence of a particular chemical, a gel that alters its viscosity to indicate the early onset of metal corrosion, or a strip of paper that self-destructs in the presence of a biological cue. This ability is even more valuable if it augments current infrastructure without requiring re-modelling of equipment and working practises. In an ideal world such devices are passive - not necessitating any input from the user until, or unless, they are required to 'self-disclose'. Finally, given that transportation costs are a major expense in any field deployment, it is crucial that the ability to functionalise materials does not incur any additional weight penalty.In this project we are seeking to exploit the increasing ability of bioengineers to develop novel stimuli-responsive gene networks - inspired by the genetic diversity of biological species - and embed these systems in functional materials. Genetic circuits afford key benefits for this application: they are lightweight, they can be encoded to react to a range of provocations, and they can output colour changes or other easily perceived properties to signal that insult has occurred. Moreover, gene circuitry is encoded in DNA. Advances over the last decade have obviated the need for traditional gene cloning, meaning that almost any DNA sequence, natural or synthetic, can be chemically synthesised and assembled quickly. In conjunction with our experience of cell-free gene expression, this offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the relationship between DNA sequence and function. This technological platform could therefore be used to develop any number of devices with the capability to respond to a wide range of stimuli, with applications in the defence of both military and civilian populations.Our aim is to use these technologies to build and optimise several proof of concept (PoC) synthetic gene networks in materials such as paper and hydrogels, with the longer term aim of being able to functionalise protective materials such as cardboard (for use in pop-up shelters, for example) and hydrogels (to allow the smart finishing of textiles and adhesives, for example). Of particular interest is the potential for combining two highly sensitive and tunable technologies: synthetic gene networks (SGNs) with stimuli responsive hydrogels. This is because, whilst stimuli responsive hydrogels offer great potential on their own, the range of stimuli to which they respond does not offer the variety and subtlety that biological systems possess. Building composite SGN/hydrogel devices, where information flows from SGN to hydrogel and back, provides an exciting opportunity for synergy between the two technologies.However, whilst these technologies will be developed within controlled laboratory conditions, the eventual aim is for their deployment in the wider world. This raises two issues: the first is practical - how will these devices operate in variable conditions, away from the protection of the experimental scientist; and second - what is our response to the use of synthetic gene networks outside of an experimental situation? Can we ensure that safety of these devices is central to their design from the point of project initiation? This project will address these two issues. We will set safety standards for novel gene that can be used in this project and in the wider synthetic biology community; and we will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders (e.g.Dstl, Synthace and appropriate commercial partners) to better understand the roadblocks to translation.

能够准确报告其当前状况或其历史暴露于化学、生物或其他事件的材料在增强用户的决策能力方面具有巨大价值。例如，这可能是一种在特定化学品存在下改变颜色的织物，一种改变其粘度以指示金属腐蚀早期发生的凝胶，或者一张在生物线索存在下自毁的纸条。如果这种能力能够增强现有的基础设施，而不需要对设备和工作流程进行重新建模，那么这种能力就更加有价值。在理想的世界中，这样的设备是被动的-不需要来自用户的任何输入，直到或除非它们被要求“自我关闭”。最后，考虑到运输成本是任何现场部署的主要费用，使材料功能化的能力不会产生任何额外的重量损失至关重要。在这个项目中，我们正在寻求利用生物工程师越来越多的能力来开发新型刺激响应基因网络-受到生物物种遗传多样性的启发-并将这些系统嵌入功能材料中。遗传电路为这一应用提供了关键的好处：它们重量轻，可以编码以对一系列挑衅做出反应，并且可以输出颜色变化或其他容易感知的特性，以表明已经发生了侮辱。此外，基因电路在DNA中编码。过去十年的进步已经消除了对传统基因克隆的需要，这意味着几乎任何DNA序列，无论是天然的还是合成的，都可以通过化学方法快速合成和组装。结合我们在无细胞基因表达方面的经验，这为探索DNA序列与功能之间的关系提供了无与伦比的机会。因此，该技术平台可用于开发任何数量的设备，这些设备能够对各种刺激做出反应，并应用于军事和民用人群的防御。我们的目标是利用这些技术在纸和水凝胶等材料中构建和优化几种概念验证（proof of concept，缩写为CET）合成基因网络，其长期目标是能够使保护性材料功能化，例如纸板（例如用于弹出式掩体）和水凝胶（例如允许纺织品和粘合剂的智能整理）。特别令人感兴趣的是结合两种高度敏感和可调技术的潜力：合成基因网络（SGNs）与刺激响应水凝胶。这是因为，虽然刺激响应性水凝胶本身提供了巨大的潜力，但它们响应的刺激范围并不提供生物系统所具有的多样性和微妙性。构建复合SGN/水凝胶设备，其中信息从SGN流向水凝胶并返回，为两种技术之间的协同作用提供了令人兴奋的机会。然而，虽然这些技术将在受控的实验室条件下开发，但最终目标是在更广阔的世界中部署。这就提出了两个问题：第一个问题是实际问题-这些装置在离开实验科学家保护的可变条件下如何运作;第二个问题-我们对在实验情况之外使用合成基因网络有何反应？我们能否确保这些设备的安全性从项目启动时起就成为其设计的核心？本项目将解决这两个问题。我们将为可用于该项目和更广泛的合成生物学社区的新基因制定安全标准;我们将继续与相关利益相关者（例如Dstl，Synthace和适当的商业合作伙伴）合作，以更好地了解翻译的障碍。

项目成果

Cell-free protein synthesis in hydrogel materials.

水凝胶材料中的无细胞蛋白质合成。

• DOI: 10.1039/d0cc02582h
• 发表时间: 2020
• 期刊: Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
• 作者: Whitfield CJ

Key reaction components affect the kinetics and performance robustness of cell-free protein synthesis reactions.

• DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.12.013
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Computational and structural biotechnology journal
• 影响因子: 6
• 作者: Banks AM;Whitfield CJ;Brown SR;Fulton DA;Goodchild SA;Grant C;Love J;Lendrem DW;Fieldsend JE;Howard TP
• 通讯作者: Howard TP

Methods for Embedding Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Reactions in Macro-Scale Hydrogels.

在宏观水凝胶中嵌入无细胞蛋白质合成反应的方法。

• DOI: 10.3791/65500
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: JoVE
• 作者: Kavil S

Plant pest surveillance: from satellites to molecules.

• DOI: 10.1042/etls20200300
• 发表时间: 2021-05-21
• 期刊: Emerging topics in life sciences
• 影响因子: 3.8
• 作者: Silva G;Tomlinson J;Onkokesung N;Sommer S;Mrisho L;Legg J;Adams IP;Gutierrez-Vazquez Y;Howard TP;Laverick A;Hossain O;Wei Q;Gold KM;Boonham N
• 通讯作者: Boonham N