Engineering Biology Applications for Environmental Solutions: Potential and Challenges

David J.  Lea-Smith; Francis Hassard; Frederic Coulon; Natalie Partridge; Louise Horsfall; Kyle D. J. Parker; Robert D. J. Smith; Ronan R.  McCarthy; Boyd McKew; Tony Gutierrez; Vinod Kumar; Gabriella Dotro; Zhugen Yang; EBIC partners; Natalio Krasnogor

doi:10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

Engineering Biology Applications for Environmental Solutions: Potential and Challenges

David J. Lea-Smith^*, Francis Hassard, Frederic Coulon, Natalie Partridge, Louise Horsfall, Kyle D. J. Parker, Robert D. J. Smith, Ronan R. McCarthy , Boyd McKew, Tony Gutierrez, Vinod Kumar, Gabriella Dotro, Zhugen Yang, EBIC partners, Natalio Krasnogor^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

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 commercialization 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.

Original language	English
Article number	3538
Number of pages	21
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	16
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0
Publication status	Published - 14 Apr 2025

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10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

s41467-025-58492-0Final published version, 2.44 MBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY)

CYBER Engineering Biology Mission Award
Oyarzun, D. (Principal Investigator)
University of Bristol
1/05/24 → 30/04/26
Project: Research
Environmental Biotechnology Innovation Centre
Horsfall, L. (Principal Investigator)
Cranfield University
14/02/24 → 31/03/29
Project: Research

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Lea-Smith, D. J., Hassard, F., Coulon, F., Partridge, N., Horsfall, L., Parker, K. D. J., Smith, R. D. J., McCarthy , R. R., McKew, B., Gutierrez, T., Kumar, V., Dotro, G., Yang, Z., EBIC partners, & Krasnogor, N. (2025). Engineering Biology Applications for Environmental Solutions: Potential and Challenges. Nature Communications, 16(1), Article 3538. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

@article{84e21f3a3e0d4f3983d1de0d572ab408,

title = "Engineering Biology Applications for Environmental Solutions: Potential and Challenges",

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 commercialization 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.",

author = "Lea-Smith, {David J.} and Francis Hassard and Frederic Coulon and Natalie Partridge and Louise Horsfall and Parker, {Kyle D. J.} and Smith, {Robert D. J.} and McCarthy, {Ronan R.} and Boyd McKew and Tony Gutierrez and Vinod Kumar and Gabriella Dotro and Zhugen Yang and {EBIC partners} and Natalio Krasnogor",

note = "Conflicts of interest N.P. & N.K. are affiliated with GitLife Biotech Ltd, a UK bio-traceability company. The remaining authors declare no competing interests.",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

day = "14",

doi = "10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0",

language = "English",

volume = "16",

journal = "Nature Communications",

issn = "2041-1723",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

number = "1",

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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, EBIC partners & Krasnogor, N 2025, 'Engineering Biology Applications for Environmental Solutions: Potential and Challenges', Nature Communications, vol. 16, no. 1, 3538. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

TY - JOUR

T1 - Engineering Biology Applications for Environmental Solutions: Potential and Challenges

AU - Lea-Smith, David J.

AU - Hassard, Francis

AU - Coulon, Frederic

AU - Partridge, Natalie

AU - Horsfall, Louise

AU - Parker, Kyle D. J.

AU - Smith, Robert D. J.

AU - McCarthy , Ronan R.

AU - McKew, Boyd

AU - Gutierrez, Tony

AU - Kumar, Vinod

AU - Dotro, Gabriella

AU - Yang, Zhugen

AU - EBIC partners

AU - Krasnogor, Natalio

N1 - Conflicts of interest N.P. & N.K. are affiliated with GitLife Biotech Ltd, a UK bio-traceability company. The remaining authors declare no competing interests.

PY - 2025/4/14

Y1 - 2025/4/14

N2 - 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 commercialization 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.

AB - 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 commercialization 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.

U2 - 10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

DO - 10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

M3 - Review article

SN - 2041-1723

VL - 16

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

IS - 1

M1 - 3538

ER -

Engineering Biology Applications for Environmental Solutions: Potential and Challenges

Abstract

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Projects

CYBER Engineering Biology Mission Award

Environmental Biotechnology Innovation Centre

Cite this