Programmable cell aggregation by a synthetic biosilicification approach

Programmable cell aggregation offers valuable insights into the natural development of synthetic multicellular systems and enables precise control over spatial organization and material structuring. Previous efforts have focused on modifying cells with designed organic-based adhesive modules and assembling cells into defined patterns. Here, we present a different approach to guide cell assembly by tuning the organic-inorganic interactions. Our method involves engineering cells to express a silicifying peptide on their surfaces, which promotes silica deposition on the cell walls. This peptide simultaneously binds to the silica synthesized on adjacent cells, triggering cell clustering. The engineered cells exhibit rapid aggregation, with approximately 95% of cells assembling within 15 min. We further show that this capability can facilitate materials assembly and chemical production. Our biosilicification-based approach offers novel insights into natural multicellularity mechanisms and holds potential for applications in biomanufacturing and materials engineering.