Researchers have developed “living ceramics” by infusing porous clay with bacteria, allowing them to sense and respond to their environment. By 3D printing ceramics with pores ranging from 20-130 micrometers and 20-80 nanometers, the team created a structure that can support cell growth and provide nutrients. They then used a vacuum to pull nutrient-rich liquid into the ceramic’s pores and inoculated the structures with different bacterial cultures. The bacteria multiplied and performed their functions for at least two weeks, with the photosynthetic cyanobacteria even pulling CO2 from the air to grow. The E. coli, engineered to detect formaldehyde, detected the chemical even at levels as low as 1 ppm. While the mechanical properties of the living porous ceramics may limit their applications, the technology demonstrates the potential for harnessing microbes for smart functionalities.
The presence of formaldehyde can be detected in the fragrant aroma of living ceramics.
