Journal: Nature Communications

Article Title: Mechanically Tunable, Compostable, Healable and Scalable Engineered Living Materials

doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-53052-4

Figure Lengend Snippet: Genetic design of E. coli to produce the functional curli nanofibers to covalently crosslink ( a ) CL1: SpyTag and SpyCatcher (SpyCat) domains fused to CsgA, ( b ) CL2: SpyTag and SpyCat domains fused to CsgA via the Spacer. c Representative stress-strain curves of MECHS films consisting of CsgA, CL1, and CL2 with 3% plasticizer. d Young’s modulus, and ( e ) Elongation at the break for CsgA, CL1, and CL2 with 3% plasticizer. Biological replicates n = 10 for CsgA, n = 15 for CL1, and n = 20 for CL2. Data represented as mean ± standard deviation. d * p = 0.01, * p = 0.0295. e **** p < 0.0001. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. f Representative photographs showing a tensile test of CL1 film with the lateral dimension of 0.5 cm by 4 cm. Left image: initial. Right image: before the break. g Plot of normalized Congo Red absorbance and the weights of wet cell pellets. For Congo Red absorbance, biological replicates n = 3 for Sham and n = 6 for CsgA, CL1 and CL2. For weights of wet cell pellets, biological replicates n = 3 for Sham and n = 10 for CsgA, CL1 and CL2. h Plot of the estimated wet weight of curli nanofibers and the wet weight percentage of estimated curli nanofibers to the cell pellet. Biological replicates n = 6 for the wet weight of curli nanofibers and n = 3 for the percentage weight. Data represented as mean ± standard deviation. i Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) images of CsgA, CL1 and CL2. Top row: cell cultures. Scale bar 1 μm. Middle row: Top view of MECHS. Scale bar 10 μm. Bottom row: Side view of MECHS. Scale bar 10 μm.

Article Snippet: Images were acquired using a Zeiss Gemini 360 FESEM equipped with a field emission gun operating at 5–10 kV.

Techniques: Functional Assay, Standard Deviation, Electron Microscopy

Journal: Nature Communications

Article Title: Mechanically Tunable, Compostable, Healable and Scalable Engineered Living Materials

doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-53052-4

Figure Lengend Snippet: Representative photographs showing the biodegradation of MECHS and toilet paper in ( a ) a fresh fishnure ( b ) a dry fishnure. The lateral dimensions of the MECHS film and the toilet paper were 5 cm by 5 cm. c Plot shows the normalized biodegradation weight loss of MECHS (CsgA, CL1, and CL2), toilet paper, kimwipe (KW), polyvinyl alcohol - Mckesson (PVA-Mc), cellulose acetate (CA), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Biological replicates n = 3 for CsgA, CL1 and CL2. Technical replicates n = 3 for paper, KW, PVA-Mc, CA, PLLA, PET, and LDPE. Data represented as mean ± standard deviation. Photographs show the dissolution of d MECHS e toilet paper, f PVA-Mc, and g polyvinyl alcohol - Superpunch (PVA-Sp). d – g Lateral dimension of the films was 1 cm by 5 cm. h Photograph of a black bean seedling grown in the soil mixed with fishnure (comprising biodegraded MECHS) in a 9:1 ratio. i FESEM image of MECHS film healed by placing microliters of water at the site of abrasion (black arrows). Scale bar 200 μm. j Photograph shows the MECHS films welded (black arrows) by using water. Scale bar 0.5 cm.

Article Snippet: Images were acquired using a Zeiss Gemini 360 FESEM equipped with a field emission gun operating at 5–10 kV.

Techniques: Standard Deviation, Dissolution