Smart textiles that integrate multiple
environmental sensing capabilities
are an emerging frontier in wearable technology. In this study, we
developed dual pH- and temperature-responsive textiles by combining
engineered bacterial systems with bacterially derived proteins. For
temperature sensing, we characterized the properties of a heat sensitive
promoter, Phs, in Escherichia coli (E. coli) using enhanced green fluorescent protein
as a reporter. Our findings demonstrate that the Phs promoter
drives elevated gene expression at temperatures between 37 and 43
°C, maintaining sustained activity for several hours. Moreover,
we found that short heat shocks can significantly boost expression
levels of the Phs promoter. We successfully integrated E. coli expressing Phs-EGFP cells onto
textiles and confirmed their ability to retain heat-responsive behavior
after integration. To achieve pH responsiveness, we utilized curli
fibers, genetically engineered to incorporate a pH-sensitive fluorescent
protein, pHuji. pH-sensing curli fibers are bacterial proteins that
have a proven track record of creating stable bioresponsive textile
coatings. By embedding Phs-EGFP-expressing bacteria within
curli fiber coatings, we created a dual-responsive textile capable
of differentiating between acidic and alkaline environments while
simultaneously responding to thermal stimuli. These multifunctional
textiles exhibited dual environmental response and sensing capabilities.
This work establishes a proof-of-concept for creating smart living
textiles with modular functionalities, paving the way toward advanced
bioresponsive materials.
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Saldanha, Dalia
Jane; Rowat, Simon James Alexander; Stephenson, Henry; Dorval Courchesne, Noémie-Manuelle (1753). Living Dual Heat- and pH-Responsive Textiles. ACS Publications. Collection. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssynbio.4c00808