Data underlying the publication: Growth, Distribution, and Photosynthesis of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in 3D Hydrogels

Engineered living materials (ELMs) are a novel class of functional materials that typically feature spatial confinement of living components within an inert polymer matrix to recreate biological functions. Understanding the growth and spatial configuration of cellular populations within a matrix is crucial to predicting and improving their responsive potential and functionality. Here, we investigate the growth, spatial distribution, and photosynthetic productivity of eukaryotic microalga <em>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</em> in three-dimensionally shaped hydrogels in dependence of geometry and size. The embedded<em> C. reinhardtii </em>cells photosynthesize and form confined cell clusters, which grow faster when located close to the ELM periphery due to favorable gas exchange and light conditions. Taking advantage of location-specific growth patterns, we successfully design and print photosynthetic ELMs with increased CO₂ capturing rate, featuring high surface to volume ratio. This strategy to control cell growth for higher productivity of ELMs resembles the already established adaptations found in multicellular plant leaves.

工程化活体材料（Engineered Living Materials，ELMs）是一类新型功能材料，通常通过将活体组分空间限域于惰性聚合物基质中，以重现生物学功能。理解基质内细胞群体的生长与空间构型，对预测并优化其响应潜能与功能至关重要。本研究针对几何形状与尺寸的影响，探究了三维成型水凝胶中真核微藻莱茵衣藻（*Chlamydomonas reinhardtii*）的生长、空间分布及光合生产力。被包埋的莱茵衣藻细胞可进行光合作用并形成限域细胞簇，得益于更优的气体交换与光照条件，位于ELM边缘附近的细胞簇生长速度更快。依托这一位置特异性生长模式，我们成功设计并打印出了具备更高CO₂捕获速率的光合型ELM，该材料具有较高的表面积体积比。这种通过调控细胞生长以提升ELM生产力的策略，与多细胞植物叶片中已确立的适应机制高度相似。