Engineering\nProgrammable Electroactive Living Materials\nfor Highly Efficient Uranium Capture and Accumulation

Uranium\nis the primary fuel for nuclear energy, critical for sustainable,\ncarbon-neutral energy transitions. However, limited terrestrial resources\nand environmental risks from uranium contamination require innovative\nimmobilization and recovery solutions. In this work, we present a\nnovel uranium recovery method using programmable electroactive living\nmaterials (ELMs). Utilizing Shewanella oneidensis, this approach leverages the intrinsic extracellular electron transfer\ncapability of exoelectrogenic species, combining their adaptability\nand programmability with the robustness of engineered multicellular\nsystems. These exoelectrogenic cells were endowed to selectively capture\nand enhance U(VI) reduction by expressing uranyl-binding proteins,\ncoupled with a reconfigured transmembrane Mtr electron nanoconduit.\nBy incorporating biofilm-promoting circuits, we improved cell-to-cell\ninteractions and biofilm formation, enabling the stable assembly of\nELMs with robust structural integrity. The ELMs demonstrated superior\nelectrogenic activity, achieving a 3.30-fold increase in current density\nand a 3.15-fold increase in voltage output compared to controls in\nmicrobial electrochemical and fuel cells. When applied for uranium\nrecovery, the ELMs exhibited robust U(VI) capture, reduction, and\naccumulation capabilities, with a maximum capacity of 808.42 μmol/g.\nThis work not only provides a versatile and environmentally friendly\nsolution for uranium recovery, but also highlights the potential of\nELMs in sustainable environmental and energy technologies.