TY - JOUR
T1 - Engineering biology applications for environmental solutions: potential and challenges
AU - Lea-Smith, David J.
AU - Hassard, Francis
AU - Coulon, Frederic
AU - Partridge, Natalie
AU - Horsfall, Louise
AU - Parker, Kyle D.J.
AU - Smith, Robert D.J.
AU - McCarthy, Ronan R.
AU - McKew, Boyd
AU - Gutierrez, Tony
AU - Kumar, Vinod
AU - Dotro, Gabriella
AU - Yang, Zhugen
AU - Zhang, Yue
AU - Yakunin, Alexander
AU - Smith, Cindy
AU - Lyu, Tao
AU - Liu, Yongqiang
AU - Le Corre Pidou, Kristell
AU - Jones, Davey L.
AU - Jeffrey, Paul
AU - Jefferson, Bruce
AU - Heaven, Sonia
AU - Golyshin, Peter
AU - Curtis, Thomas P.
AU - Krasnogor, Natalio
AU - EBIC partners
PY - 2025/12
Y1 - 2025/12
N2 - Engineering biology applies synthetic biology to address global environmental challenges like bioremediation, biosequestration, pollutant monitoring, and resource recovery. This perspective outlines innovations in engineering biology, its integration with other technologies (e.g., nanotechnology, IoT, AI), and commercial ventures leveraging these advancements. We also discuss commercialisation and scaling challenges, biosafety and biosecurity considerations including biocontainment strategies, social and political dimensions, and governance issues that must be addressed for successful real-world implementation. Finally, we highlight future perspectives and propose strategies to overcome existing hurdles, aiming to accelerate the adoption of engineering biology for environmental solutions.
AB - Engineering biology applies synthetic biology to address global environmental challenges like bioremediation, biosequestration, pollutant monitoring, and resource recovery. This perspective outlines innovations in engineering biology, its integration with other technologies (e.g., nanotechnology, IoT, AI), and commercial ventures leveraging these advancements. We also discuss commercialisation and scaling challenges, biosafety and biosecurity considerations including biocontainment strategies, social and political dimensions, and governance issues that must be addressed for successful real-world implementation. Finally, we highlight future perspectives and propose strategies to overcome existing hurdles, aiming to accelerate the adoption of engineering biology for environmental solutions.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105003387305
U2 - 10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0
DO - 10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 40229265
AN - SCOPUS:105003387305
SN - 2041-1723
VL - 16
SP - 1
EP - 12
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
IS - 1
M1 - 3538
ER -