Work

Engineering biology applications for environmental solutions: potential and challenges

Year: 2025

Type: review

Abstract: 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.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

Authors: David J. Lea-Smith, Francis Hassard, Frederic Coulon, Natalie Partridge, Louise Horsfall, Kyle D. J. Parker, Robert D. J. Smith, Ronan R. McCarthy, Boyd McKew, Tony Gutierrez, Vinod Kumar, Gabriella Dotro, Zhugen Yang, EBIC partners, Thomas P. Curtis, Peter Golyshin, Sonia Heaven, Bruce Jefferson, Paul Jeffrey, Davey L. Jones, Kristell Le Corre Pidou, Yongqiang Liu, Tao Lyu, Cindy Smith, Alexander Yakunin, Yue Zhang, Natalio Krasnogor

Institutions: University of East Anglia, Cranfield University, Newcastle City Council, University of Edinburgh, Brunel University of London, University of Essex, Heriot-Watt University, Newcastle University, Bangor University, University of Southampton, University of Glasgow

Language: English

Topic: Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $6,990

Funders: UK Research and Innovation, Leverhulme Trust, Royal Academy of Engineering, Research Councils UK, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Awards: Cyanobacteria engineering for restoring environments (CYBER), G1303835834, Environmental Biotechnology Network, G3608711107, Environmental Biotechnology Innovation Centre, G6420716820, G7361751065

OpenAlex ID: W4409412903

FWCI: 9.229

Cites: 82

Cited by: 105

Related to: 10