Plant based 4D biohybrid systems

ongoing

Modern technology relies on fully artificial systems. While in many cases these systems are high performing there have been approaches to add further complexity or intelligence inspired by natural processes. Biomimetic systems however are purely synthetic and cannot fully mimic the high complexity of living systems. The overall goal of the 4D-PhytoHybrid is to develop photosynthetic biohybrid systems that maintain fundamental properties of the living components and set the foundation for the development of a generic hybrid technology. The biohybrid system will consist of four dimensions with increasing level of complexity and sophistication. The first dimension consists of the plant cells with their natural ability to photosynthesize and produce sugars, oxygen, sequester CO2 but also produce materials as cell wall components. The second dimension is represented by the non-native functionality of the living cells that is acquired with electronic, biocatalytic and structural materials that integrate into the plant cell wall. The third dimension is the 3D spatial organization of cells and physicochemical gradients with additive manufacturing. The fourth dimension is time that will enable responsive and evolvable functionality of the biohybrid system driven by the cell processes. I have a background in organic electronic materials, bioelectronics and plant based biohybrid systems. I was the first to demonstrate plants with augmented electronic functionality, but also to discover conjugate oligomers that can polymerized in vivo by the plant and assemble into functional components in the plant cell wall. My unique skillset and expertise will therefore ensure the successful implementation of the proposed high risk / high gain project. With the ERC funding, I will establish a team for developing next generation technology based on photosynthetic biohybrid systems in order to open the pathway for new technological concepts and launch a European hub for living technology.