Controlling Materials with Biomolecular Circuits

Cells can sense chemical signals in the environment and in response release or degrade different molecular species and change their shape, size or mechanical properties. Complex chemical programs implemented by biomolecular circuits allow cells to have complex, many stage responses to a single stimulus. Molecular programming techniques could enable materials to likewise be controlled by biomolecular circuits and execute different complex adaptive changes in response to different stimuli. Using hydrogels as a model, we explore how molecular circuits could interpret molecular signals and direct complex responses in abiotic materials.