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

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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 commercialisation 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
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	16
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0
Publication status	Published - 14 Apr 2025

Keywords

Biodegradation, Environmental
Bioengineering - methods
Humans
Nanotechnology
Synthetic Biology - methods

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Chemistry
General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Physics and Astronomy

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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, Article 3538. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58492-0

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AU - Smith, Robert D. J.

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Engineering Biology Applications for Environmental Solutions: Potential and Challenges

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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