Difference between revisions of "Team:KU Leuven/Future/More applications"

First of all, our project has the goal to unravel the secrets of nature according to pattern formation. Many have argued that a lot of things can be learned and understood by looking at nature. However it still holds many secrets, often cell-cell interaction and communication related, hidden to the world. There can be a lot learned about nature from the same principles we are aiming to understand with our research. A better understanding of the pattern formation process in combination with the appropriate and detailed predictive mathematical models will also be advantageous in many other fields.

Tumor formation and the development of metastasis

Tumor formation and tissue regeneration are a couple of examples in which the medical world could benefit from a deeper, fundamental knowledge of pattern formation. Since, most cancers start as a disease in which the tissue pattern formation is aberrant, a deeper insight in the process is necessary. Hereby, bacteria form the perfect starting point to investigate the respond of single cells on different stimuli present in the environment. A better understanding of those mechanisms can result in a different approach to the treatment of certain cancers.

Miniature electrical conductors

Electrical circuits can be found everywhere in today's world, from traditional examples like kitchen appliances and radio's to the circuits in a pacemaker. A field that had particular success is micro-electronics, that is mainly interested in the construction of integrated circuits. In the long term, the ability to construct predesigned patterns of bacteria could lead to applications in miniature electrical conductors and/or electrical circuits. The first step is to create the desired pattern, whereafter the bacteria can deposit electrical conducting substances. This clearly anticipates to the tendency of making electrical wires and integrated circuits as small as possible.

Novel biomaterials

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, people used mainly concrete, cement and bricks as the main construction material. This situation remained largely unquestioned for more than 150 years. However quite recently, climate change and resource limitations are challenging these to remain the number one materials. In the search for new eco-friendly construction materials, the idea to use bacteria comes more and more into the picture. Initiatives like ‘the bacteria grown bricks from BioMason’ and ‘the sand solidifying Sporosarcina pasteurii bacillus from Dupe’ has shown that the idea of using bacteria for construction materials isn’t too futuristic, but can be useful. Some biomaterials can also offer excellent features like flame-resistance, eco-friendliness and sometimes even great insulation properties.
The generation of patterns in a controlled way will allow the production of novel biomaterials. After forming a pattern, the cells can be engineered to precipitate or deposit networked biominerals, opening up exciting new avenues for the production of microstructured biocomposite materials. In order to do this, we should try start working on 3D modeling of our patterns in parallel with the development of 3D biological patterns. Another way to face the 3D challenge, could be to work together with the TU Delft. They invented an advanced 3D printer that could be used for the production of biomaterials. For more information about this future collaboration, click on the following link: Future collaboration with TU Delft,