Event
CHBE Seminar: Dr. William E. Bentley, UMD
Friday, April 3, 2026
11:00 a.m.
Room 2108 Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Building
Patricia Lorenzana
301-405-1935
plorenza@umd.edu
"Programmable Assembly and Electrogenetic Actuation of Engineered Living Materials via Redox"
Abstract: We envision new processes and products based on a new dialogue between biology and microelectronics – products and processes that eavesdrop on and manipulate biological systems within their own settings and in ways that speed corrective actions. Redox-based biofabrication and synthetic biology are integral technologies for achieving this vision. Synthetic biology, a powerful tool for “green” product synthesis through the genetic rearrangement of cells, can also provide a means to connect biological systems with microelectronic devices. Cells can be reprogrammed to close the communication gap that exists between the electrons and photons of devices and the molecules and ions of biology. While only certain cells can receive and spread electrical signals through ionic transport, recent studies suggest that virtually all cells are able to communicate electronically. This is made possible through redox-mediated electron transfer, as redox reactions are ubiquitous in biology, enabling essential cell functions in central metabolism, energy harvesting, and cellular signaling. Importantly, while cells are engineered to synthesize products, they are also engineered as “communicators”. Then, redox-enabled biofabrication provides a convenient, non-mechanical means to assemble cells and other materials onto conductive surfaces of nearly arbitrary geometry. Intentional placement of engineered cells and materials forms a basis for biohybrid devices that can serve many functions, from electronically programmable biosynthesis, electronically enabled biological sensing, as well as nearly seamless bidirectional communication between biology and microelectronics. We will touch on our contributions to this emerging topic, including for example, an electrogenetic CRISPR, real time feedback control of gene expression, and efforts to electronically control the “language” of bacteria in an effort to purposely guide microbial consortia.
Bio: William E. Bentley is the Robert E. Fischell Distinguished Chair of Engineering, the Inaugural Director of the Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, and the Director of the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute. He is also appointed in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering, the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (courtesy) and the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research. At Maryland since 1989, Dr. Bentley has focused his research on the development of molecular tools that facilitate the expression of biologically active proteins, having authored over 400 related archival publications. His recent interests interface biology with electronics, establishing electrogenetics as a means for electronic control of biological systems.
He is a fellow of AAAS, ACS, AIMBE, and the American Academy of Microbiology. He has served on advisory committees for the NIH, NSF, DOD, DOE, FDA, USDA, and several state agencies and has mentored over 50 PhDs and 25 postdocs, many now in leadership roles within industry, federal agencies, and academia. He co-founded a protein manufacturing company, Chesapeake PERL, based on insect larvae as mini bioreactors.
