INV-20116
Most biomaterials (e.g. wood, silk) found in nature are formed at ambient conditions and degrade naturally to enable a sustainable ecosystem. In contrast, the production of human-made materials (e.g. cement, plastics) requires high temperatures or harsh chemical treatments, while their non-biodegradability unfavorably affects our environment. With the growing concerns on global climate changes, it is important to take inspiration from nature and design materials for a sustainable world. This sustainability issue can be addressed by employing living cells as factories to produce materials at ambient conditions.
This invention describes a method to fabricate Stiff Living Materials (SLMs). This is the first of its kind, wherein living microbial cells are utilized to make materials that are as strong and stiff as plastics, wood, bone, and concrete. The SLM also comprises living cells, which can be utilized to self-regenerate the material. SLMs are resistant to organic solvents like hexane, chloroform, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol, and dimethylformamide.
This living material’s technology offers limitless opportunities to design and develop sustainable structural materials.