(588d) From Self-Assembly to Function: Probing Living Biomaterials Via Advanced X-Ray Scattering

Nature has long optimized spatial organization to enable efficient function; whether as channels for transport, barriers for protection, or interfaces for catalysis. Prokaryotic cells, though unicellular and structurally simple, exhibit elegant examples of such organization through lipid membranes and protein assemblies that sustain life and drive metabolism.

In the pursuit of sustainable materials, microbes offer an exciting platform for polymer synthesis. Certain bacteria and archaea can produce polyesters such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from carbon dioxide or simple sugars, and these polymers can make up more than half of the cell’s biomass. My research explores how to harness these biologically synthesized polyesters by embedding the living microbes within hydrogel matrices, creating living biomaterials that combine biological activity with engineered structure.

Using advanced materials characterization techniques, including synchrotron-based X-ray scattering, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and atomic force microscopy, we investigate how intracellular polymer synthesis affects the mechanical and structural properties of the composite material. Given water’s role as a plasticizer, we also apply interfacial energy strategies to modulate polymer crystallinity which is crucial for tuning mechanical and thermal behavior.

This talk will present a materials-science-driven platform to systematically study and design living biomaterials for energy and health applications, bridging microbial metabolism, soft materials, and polymer physics.