Living therapeutic hydrogels that safely encapsulate drug-producing biofactories and sustain their function long-term

A fundamental question for LTM development is how to control the growth and activity of encapsulated biofactories in a nutrient-rich environment. In the LSC we demonstrated that this can be achieved by tailoring the spatial confinement, mechanical and diffusion properties of the encapsulating materials. We identified hydrogel composition windows and physical requirements needed to maximize drug production and maintain a steady-state bacteria number with a constant drug release profile from the LTM.