Engineered bacteria as living biosensors in dermal tattoos
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Dermal tattoo biosensors are promising platforms for real-time monitoring of biomarkers, with skin used as a diagnostic interface. Traditional tattoo sensors have utilized small molecules as biosensing elements. However, the rise of synthetic biology has enabled the potential employment of engineered bacteria as living analytical tools. Exploiting engineered bacterial sensors will allow for potentially more sensitive detection across a broad biomarker range, with advanced processing and sense/response functionalities using genetic circuits. Here, the interfacing of bacterial biosensors as living analytics in tattoos is shown. Engineered bacteria are encapsulated into micron-scale hydrogel beads prepared through scalable microfluidics. These biosensors can sense both biochemical cues (model biomarkers) and biophysical cues (temperature changes, using RNA thermometers), with fluorescent readouts. By tattooing beads into skin models and confirming sensor activity post-tattooing, our study establishes a foundation for integrating bacteria as living biosensing entities in tattoos.
Date Issued
2024-08
Date Acceptance
2024-05-02
Citation
Advanced Science, 2024, 11 (30)
ISSN
2198-3844
Publisher
Wiley
Journal / Book Title
Advanced Science
Volume
11
Issue
30
Copyright Statement
© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202309509
Subjects
ACTIVATION
bacteria
biosensors
Chemistry
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
DELIVERY
DETECT
hydrogels
Materials Science
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
microfluidics
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Physical Sciences
Science & Technology
Science & Technology - Other Topics
synthetic biology
tattoo
Technology
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
2309509
Date Publish Online
2024-06-17