Ultrasensitive biohybrid mechanoluminescent materials

Mechanosensing, the transduction of extracellular mechanical stimuli into intracellular biochemical signals, is a fundamental property of living cells. However, fabricating materials with mechanosensing capabilities comparable to biological levels is challenging. In this talk, I will present our recently developed ultrasensitive and robust mechanoluminescent living composites using hydrogels embedded with dinoflagellates, unicellular microalgae with a near-instantaneous and ultra-sensitive bioluminescent response to mechanical stress. I will show that not only did embedded dinoflagellates retain their intrinsic mechanoluminescence, but with hydrophobic coatings, living composites had a lifetime of ~5 months in harsh conditions with minimal maintenance. We 3D-printed living composites into large-scale mechanoluminescent structures with high spatial resolution, and we also enhanced their mechanical properties with double-network hydrogels. We also demonstrated the use of the mechanosensing composites for biomimetic jellyfish-inspired swimmers that emitted colored light upon magnetic actuation. These mechanosensing composites have significant potential in biohybrid sensors and robotics.