# Programmable cell aggregation by a synthetic biosilicification approach

## TL;DR

Scientists engineered cells to stick together using silica, enabling rapid cell clustering for potential use in biomanufacturing and materials engineering.

## Contribution

A novel synthetic biosilicification approach for programmable cell aggregation using organic-inorganic interactions.

## Key findings

- Engineered cells with silicifying peptides aggregate rapidly, with 95% assembling within 15 minutes.
- The method enables materials assembly and chemical production using living building materials.
- A mathematical model was developed to predict aggregation kinetics.

## Abstract

Programmable cell aggregation offers valuable insights into the natural development of synthetic multicellular systems and enables precise control over spatial organization and material structuring. Previous efforts have focused on modifying cells with designed organic-based adhesive modules and assembling cells into defined patterns. Here, we present a different approach to guide cell assembly by tuning the organic-inorganic interactions. Our method involves engineering cells to express a silicifying peptide on their surfaces, which promotes silica deposition on the cell walls. This peptide simultaneously binds to the silica synthesized on adjacent cells, triggering cell clustering. The engineered cells exhibit rapid aggregation, with approximately 95% of cells assembling within 15 min. We further show that this capability can facilitate materials assembly and chemical production. Our biosilicification-based approach offers novel insights into natural multicellularity mechanisms and holds potential for applications in biomanufacturing and materials engineering.

•Programmable cell assembly by engineered organic-inorganic interactions•Development of a mathematical model to predict aggregation kinetics•Assembly of living building materials by mixing sand with engineered bacteria•Manufacturing of chemicals with oxygen-sensitive pathway

Programmable cell assembly by engineered organic-inorganic interactions

Development of a mathematical model to predict aggregation kinetics

Assembly of living building materials by mixing sand with engineered bacteria

Manufacturing of chemicals with oxygen-sensitive pathway

Bioengineering; Synthetic biology; Biomaterials