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Engineering biology applications for environmental solutions: potential and challenges

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Standard Standard

Engineering biology applications for environmental solutions: potential and challenges. / Lea-Smith, David J.; Hassard, Francis; Coulon, Frederic et al.
In: Nature Communications, Vol. 16, 3538, 14.04.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

HarvardHarvard

Lea-Smith, DJ, Hassard, F, Coulon, F, Partridge, N, Horsfall, L, Parker, KDJ, Smith, RDJ, McCarty, RR, McKew, B, Guttierrez, T, Kumar, V, Dotro, G, Yang, Z, Golyshin, P & Krasnogor, N 2025, 'Engineering biology applications for environmental solutions: potential and challenges', Nature Communications, vol. 16, 3538. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

APA

Lea-Smith, D. J., Hassard, F., Coulon, F., Partridge, N., Horsfall, L., Parker, K. D. J., Smith, R. D. J., McCarty, R. R., McKew, B., Guttierrez, T., Kumar, V., Dotro, G., Yang, Z., Golyshin, P., & Krasnogor, N. (2025). Engineering biology applications for environmental solutions: potential and challenges. Nature Communications, 16, Article 3538. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

CBE

Lea-Smith DJ, Hassard F, Coulon F, Partridge N, Horsfall L, Parker KDJ, Smith RDJ, McCarty RR, McKew B, Guttierrez T, et al. 2025. Engineering biology applications for environmental solutions: potential and challenges. Nature Communications. 16:Article 3538. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

MLA

Lea-Smith, David J. et al. "Engineering biology applications for environmental solutions: potential and challenges". Nature Communications. 2025. 16. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

VancouverVancouver

Lea-Smith DJ, Hassard F, Coulon F, Partridge N, Horsfall L, Parker KDJ et al. Engineering biology applications for environmental solutions: potential and challenges. Nature Communications. 2025 Apr 14;16:3538. Epub 2025 Apr 14. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

Author

Lea-Smith, David J. ; Hassard, Francis ; Coulon, Frederic et al. / Engineering biology applications for environmental solutions: potential and challenges. In: Nature Communications. 2025 ; Vol. 16.

RIS

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 - McCarty, Ronan R.

AU - McKew, Boyd

AU - Guttierrez, Tony

AU - Kumar, Vinod

AU - Dotro, Gabriella

AU - Yang, Zhugen

AU - Golyshin, Peter

AU - Krasnogor, Natalio

PY - 2025/4/14

Y1 - 2025/4/14

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.

U2 - 10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

DO - 10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

M3 - Article

VL - 16

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

SN - 2041-1723

M1 - 3538

ER -