What is it about?
Can photosynthetic microorganisms become long-lasting factories for useful chemicals? We entrapped cyanobacteria specifically engineered to produce ethylene in films containing cellulose nanofibres and supplied them with light, nutrients and inorganic carbon in a specially designed bioreactor. These living films continuously produced ethylene for over four months. They achieved up to twice the total ethylene yield of cells growing freely in liquid medium under comparable operating conditions.
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Photo by masakazu sasaki on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Ethylene is a major raw material for plastics and other chemicals, but its conventional production relies heavily on fossil resources. Photosynthetic production offers a possible alternative by using light energy to convert carbon dioxide into useful chemicals. A key challenge is keeping the cells productive for long periods. Our study shows that immobilising cyanobacteria in films can sustain ethylene production for over four months and increase total yields. This approach provides a strong basis for developing durable photosynthetic production systems, although productivity and scale-up require further improvement. This research relates to the following Sustainable Development Goals: • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production • SDG 13: Climate Action Keywords: Engineered photosynthetic living materials; photosynthetic cell factories; ethylene production; cyanobacteria; carbon dioxide utilisation; cell immobilisation; nanocellulose; sustainable biotechnology.
Perspectives
Our aim was to explore whether photosynthetic cells entrapped within transparent nanocellulose film could serve as durable, reusable catalysts for chemical production. Sustaining ethylene production for more than four months demonstrates the value of designing the cells, their supporting materials, and the reactor as an integrated system. The next challenge is to translate this longevity into higher productivity and reliable operation at larger scales.
Dr Sergey N Kosourov
Turun Yliopisto
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Over 4 months of ethylene production using solid-state photosynthetic cell factories, Trends in Biotechnology, July 2026, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.06.006.
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Resources
Solid-state photosynthetic cell factories
Imagine a solar panel made not of metal and silicon, but of living microbes. That’s the main idea behind solid-state photosynthetic cell factories. In these systems, photosynthetic organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria are embedded in a thin, leaf-like matrix that supports and protects them.
Photosynthetic microorganisms achieve long-lasting and renewable chemical production
University of Turku press release.
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