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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/31217
Title: Engineering biology applications for environmental solutions: potential and challenges
Authors: Lea-Smith, DJ
Hassard, F
Coulon, F
Partridge, N
Horsfall, L
Parker, KDJ
Smith, RDJ
McCarthy, RR
McKew, B
Gutierrez, T
Kumar, V
Dotro, G
Yang, Z
Curtis, TP
Golyshin, P
Heaven, S
Jefferson, B
Jeffrey, P
Jones, DL
Le Corre Pidou, K
Liu, Y
Lyu, T
Smith, C
Yakunin, A
Zhang, Y
Krasnogor, N
Keywords: applied microbiology;bioremediation;environmental biotechnology;governance;molecular engineering
Issue Date: 14-Apr-2025
Publisher: Springer Nature
Citation: Lea-Smith, D.J. et al. for the EBIC partners (2025) 'Engineering biology applications for environmental solutions: potential and challenges', Nature Communications, 16 (1), 3538, pp. 1 - 12. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0.
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.
Description: Supplementary information is available online at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58492-0#Sec9 .
URI: https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/31217
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0
Other Identifiers: ORCiD: David J. Lea-Smith https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2463-406X
ORCiD: Francis Hassard https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4803-6523
ORCiD: Frederic Coulon https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4384-3222
ORCiD: Natalie Partridge https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0991-5455
ORCiD: Louise Horsfall https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1594-2992
ORCiD: Kyle D. J. Parker https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7174-4423
ORCiD: Robert D. J. Smith https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5814-6032
ORCiD: Ronan R. McCarthy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7480-6352
ORCiD: Tony Gutierrez https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6127-8511
ORCID: Zhugen Yang https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4183-8160
ORCiD: Natalio Krasnogor https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2651-4320
Article number: 3538
Appears in Collections:Dept of Life Sciences Research Papers

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