FORM INTO FUNCTION: 3D-PRINTED CORE-SHELL DESIGNS ENGINEERED LIVING MATERIALS FOR ENHANCED BIOPRODUCTION, BIOPROTECTION, AND BIOCONTAINMENT

Abstract

Engineered Living Materials (ELMs), composite materials comprising of living microorganisms embedded within polymeric matrices, have emerged as programmable and self- sustaining platforms for deployment across industrial, environmental, and remote contexts. While ELMs hold promise for decentralized biomanufacturing, their real-world application is constrained by critical challenges such as scaling bioproduction, ensuring bioprotection of key organisms, and maintaining biocontainment for safe and controlled deployment. This thesis presents three design- focused developments toward deployable ELMs: the design of multi-kingdom ELMs leveraging artificial microbial symbiosis for enhanced bioproduction, the development of a physico-chemical core-shell biocontainment strategy utilizing enzyme-functionalized hydrogels, and the evaluation of hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG) as a potential scaffold material for remote deployment applications in low-hydration environments. Together, these works establish a framework for ELM design approaches focused on transitioning deployment outside of classical laboratory settings, advancing ELMs as a compelling platform for distributed biomanufacturing at the frontier of a bio-hybrid future.