Engineering of Bacterial-Hybrid System via Interfacial Nanotechnology and Biological Compatibilization Strategy

Abstract

To overcome today's fossil fuel shortage and environmental pollution issues, research is being conducted to design a biohybrid system that utilizes bacteria which show excellent energy efficiency in nature, and this is currently considered an important task as a next-generation energy technology for future society, providing an opportunity to respond to the challenges of existing energy technologies in an environmentally sustainable manner. Since biological basic studies on functional bacterial strains that can directly contribute to the future cutting-edge industries of mankind starts to accumulate, engineers also have developed various prototype energy systems using such microorganisms. As a feasible and practical approach of microbial-hybrid systems, whole-cell-based hybrid systems, which innovatively combine artificial materials with the biological cells are attractive interdisciplinary research that can meet the requirements of modern energy society. Herein, we will explain the working mechanism and principle of various kinds of modern bacterial-hybrid technology through biological characteristics of the bacteria in the primitive natural environment. In addition, inspired from the biological mechanisms of wildlife bacterial logic, we will further demonstrate the feasible bio-inspired artificial systems, which can be utilized for various applications including energy harvesting and storage, environmental remediations.