TY - DATA T1 - Data underlying the publication: Growth, Distribution, and Photosynthesis of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in 3D Hydrogels PY - 2023/10/27 AU - Jeong-Joo Oh AU - Satya Ammu AU - Vivian Vriend AU - Roland Kieffer AU - Friedrich Kleiner AU - Srikkanth Balasubramanian AU - Elvin Karana AU - Kunal Masania AU - Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam UR - DO - 10.4121/dbac218d-fca8-4c53-b39a-b7ebed3344ea.v1 KW - Microalgae KW - hydrogel KW - 3D printing KW - spatial organization KW - functional living surface KW - CO2 consumption KW - engineered living material N2 -

Engineered living materials (ELMs) are a novel class of functional materials that typically feature spatial confinement of living components within an inert polymer matrix to recreate biological functions. Understanding the growth and spatial configuration of cellular populations within a matrix is crucial to predicting and improving their responsive potential and functionality. Here, we investigate the growth, spatial distribution, and photosynthetic productivity of eukaryotic microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in three-dimensionally shaped hydrogels in dependence of geometry and size. The embedded C. reinhardtii cells photosynthesize and form confined cell clusters, which grow faster when located close to the ELM periphery due to favorable gas exchange and light conditions. Taking advantage of location-specific growth patterns, we successfully design and print photosynthetic ELMs with increased CO2 capturing rate, featuring high surface to volume ratio. This strategy to control cell growth for higher productivity of ELMs resembles the already established adaptations found in multicellular plant leaves.

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