In a poetic blend of science and art, Laia Mogas-Soldevila, an assistant professor with the Stuart Weitzman School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, is creating an unusual and innovative type of architectural technology. "This technology is not alive," she emphasizes, "It is living-like."

Mogas-Soldevila is no stranger to navigating the intersection between disciplines. Her academic portfolio boasts a doctorate in biomedical engineering, multiple degrees in architecture, and a steadfast commitment to sustainable design. By incorporating biology into everyday materials, she aims to construct a future where nature and artificial elements coexist in harmony.

Her latest invention might seem unremarkable at first glance—a freeze-dried pellet small enough to disappear in your pocket. But there's more than meets the eye to this minuscule object. Born from a yearlong collaboration between designers, engineers, and biologists, this biomaterial harbors a system that closely mirrors life.

The real magic starts when the pellet comes into contact with water. It springs to life, emitting a radiant protein that demonstrates the profound potential when life and art amalgamate into something wholly different—both appealing and protective. These pellets can be woven into flexible lattices, promoting airflow and moisture circulation, thereby morphing into visually striking interior design elements that could also guard our health. Detailed findings about the research behind these pellets can be found in the lab’s recent peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology.
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“We envision them as sensors,” Mogas-Soldevila reveals. “They may detect pathogens, such as bacteria or viruses, or alert people to toxins inside their home. The pellets are designed to interact with air. With development, they could monitor or even clean it.”

But, for now, the fluorescence serves as an affirmation. It attests that the lab's biomaterial production process aligns well with the cutting-edge cell-free engineering responsible for the pellets' life-like attributes. This fast-evolving technology allows scientists to manufacture proteins without relying on living cells.

Gabrielle Ho, a PhD candidate in the Department of Bioengineering and project co-leader, clarifies how their design work adopted a cell-free approach, an avenue seldom explored beyond lab research or medical use.

“Typically, we’d use living E. coli cells to make a protein,” explains Ho. “E. coli is a biological workhorse, accessible and very productive. But this traditional method was not an option for this project. You can’t have engineered E. coli hanging on your walls.”

Instead, the team leverages cell-free systems that contain all the necessary components for protein production without the complications of life. These systems, unlike living cells, do not multiply or cause infections. They are, in essence, "living-like," imitating the protein synthesis process that was once exclusive to living cells.

Mogas-Soldevila, who runs a lab dedicated to biodegradable architecture, has a profound appreciation for the potential of biomaterials. They not only present a more environmentally responsible choice but also bring an aesthetic richness. "Architects are coming to the realization that conventional materials are environmentally damaging, and they are becoming more and more interested in alternatives," she shares.

Their quest for a solution that merges functionality with beauty led the team to an unlikely intersection of science and art. The journey was both challenging and rewarding, with constraints sparking creativity and imagination. Mogas-Soldevila envisions a future where materials warn us of invisible threats, and a new aesthetic relationship is forged with bio-based and bioactive matter.

For now, this exciting interdisciplinary project continues, fueled by a relentless pursuit of a better, more sustainable future. As Mogas-Soldevila puts it, "It was inspiring to witness the rigor and attention to constraints that bioengineering brings.”