Photosynthetic Bacteria-Based Biohybrid Materials for Energy and Sensing

Photosynthetic bacteria can utilize sunlight, the most abundant energy resource on Earth, to sustain their metabolism by means of the photosynthetic process. Scientists and engineers have mimicked this fascinating process developing artificial systems that allow converting sunlight into electrical and/or chemical energy.¹ In recent years, the possibility to couple abundant and sustainable photosynthetic biological catalysts with electrodes has called particular interest to harvest solar energy without the need of platinum group metals or other critical raw materials.^2,3 However, bacterial cells did not evolve to exchange electrons with an external electron acceptor/donor, making the transfer of photoinduced electron to (and from) an electrode the most critical challenge to be overcome.⁴<br/>The talk will focus on the approaches that we are currently investigating to tailor the bacteria/electrode interface, specifically by (i) developing polydopamine-purple bacteria-based redox-adhesive matrices;⁵ (ii) modifying the cellular membrane of photosynthetic bacteria with inorganic nanoparticles; and (iii) developing bio-based electrode materials using polyhydroxybutyrate for enhanced bacteria colonization.<br/>Application of the biohybrid materials obtained with these approaches for the development of sustainable biosensors and the production of energy carriers will be discussed, together with the challenges and outlook of this fascinating technology.<br/> <br/><b>References</b><br/>1. B. Zhang and L. Sun, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2019, 48, 2216.<br/>2. N. Kornienko, J.Z. Zhang, K.K. Sakimoto, P. Yang, E. Reisner, Nat. Nanotechnol. 2018, 13, 890-899.<br/>3. M. Grattieri, K. Beaver, E.M. Gaffney, F. Dong, S.D. Minteer, Chem. Comm. 2020, 56, 8553-8568.<br/>4. L. D. M. Torquato, M. Grattieri, Curr. Opin. Electrochem. 2022, 34, 101018.<br/>5. G. Buscemi, D. Vona, P. Stufano, R. Labarile, P. Cosma, A. Agostiano, M. Trotta, G.M. Farinola, M. Grattieri, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2022, 14, 26631-26641.<br/><br/><b>Acknowledgments</b><br/>Matteo Grattieri would like to acknowledge the funding from Fondazione CON IL SUD, Grant “<i>Brains to South 2018</i>”, Project No. 2018-PDR-00914.