Photo-excited extracellular electron transfer of electroactive microorganism triggers RAFT polymerization.

ABSTRACT: Living cell-triggered reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization is of great value for construction of living materials with diverse applications. However, microorganisms-activated polymerization without end-group heterogeneity is not yet established. Here, we develop an electroactive microorganism-triggered polymerization system using Shewanella oneidensis-secreted flavins (as electron shuttles) to directly reduce chain transfer agents (CTAs) to continuously generate radicals, thus initiating RAFT polymerization. This S. oneidensis-triggered polymerization integrates microbial extracellular electron transfer pathway and photoinduced electron transfer to reduce CTAs for continuous radical generation. We then genetically engineer S. oneidensis to enhance flavins

SUBMITTER: Li C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12638906 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature