Research

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Synthetic Biology underpins advances in the bioeconomy

Biological systems - including the simplest cells - exhibit a broad range of functions to thrive in their environment. Research in the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology is focused on the possibility of engineering the underlying biochemical processes to solve many of the challenges facing society, from healthcare to sustainable energy. In particular, we model, analyse, design and build biological and biochemical systems in living cells and/or in cell extracts, both exploring and enhancing the engineering potential of biology. 

As part of our research we develop novel methods to accelerate the celebrated Design-Build-Test-Learn synthetic biology cycle. As such research in the Centre for Synthetic Biology highly multi- and interdisciplinary covering computational modelling and machine learning approaches; automated platform development and genetic circuit engineering ; multi-cellular and multi-organismal interactions, including gene drive and genome engineering; metabolic engineering; in vitro/cell-free synthetic biology; engineered phages and directed evolution; and biomimetics, biomaterials and biological engineering.

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Dekker:2017:10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.05.014,
author = {Dekker, L and Polizzi, KM},
doi = {10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.05.014},
journal = {Current Opinion in Chemical Biology},
pages = {31--36},
title = {Sense and sensitivity in bioprocessing-detecting cellular metabolites with biosensors.},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.05.014},
volume = {40},
year = {2017}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Biosensors use biological elements to detect or quantify an analyte of interest. In bioprocessing, biosensors are employed to monitor key metabolites. There are two main types: fully biological systems or biological recognition coupled with physical/chemical detection. New developments in chemical biosensors include multiplexed detection using microfluidics. Synthetic biology can be used to engineer new biological biosensors with improved characteristics. Although there have been few biosensors developed for bioprocessing thus far, emerging trends can be applied in the future. A range of new platform technologies will enable rapid engineering of new biosensors based on transcriptional activation, riboswitches, and Förster Resonance Energy Transfer. However, translation to industry remains a challenge and more research into the robustness biosensors at scale is needed.
AU  - Dekker,L
AU  - Polizzi,KM
DO  - 10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.05.014
EP  - 36
PY  - 2017///
SN  - 1367-5931
SP  - 31
TI  - Sense and sensitivity in bioprocessing-detecting cellular metabolites with biosensors.
T2  - Current Opinion in Chemical Biology
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.05.014
UR  - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28609710
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/49822
VL  - 40
ER  -
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