Overview

Our team developed two sets of hardware to address problems in synthetic biology.
The first problem is that while optogenetics in synthetic biology is progressing at an exciting pace, the development of custom tools to support the research of optogenetic circuits still lags behind. Examples of the most current hardware tools available: Moglich and colleagues modified a Tecan microplate reader and added light illumination, but their approach is costly and requires specialized knowledge of the microplate reader model. Tabor et al. constructed an open-source light exposure tool for a 24-well plate. Based on literature review it seems that tools have been developed only for well plates. However there are certain reasons why researchers would like to choose petri dishes and erlenmeyer flasks over well plates when studying optogenetic circuits. We needed to use these when developing our biomanufacturing process. We thus created PDF-LA! to empower optogenetic researchers. We validated this using modelling and characterization of our own blue-light repressible circuits. Read more here.
The second problem is that so far, while Zhao et al. have increased yield of isobutanol from yeast by using a blue light repressible system in a simple bioreactor, they did not optimize the duration or intensity of blue light, and shone blue light periodically. Dynamic regulation is a good method for optimization.

Optogenetics

The use of optogenetics in synthetic biology requires hardwares to control on and off, intensity of light. We designed and built light inducible or repressible hardware for the use in laboratory. Devices used to induce gene expression through light is developed. Devices range from small volume of 12 well plate to larger volume of bioreactor.

Methodology

IN progress