Week 1 HW: Final Project Ideas

(1) What you would like to biomanufacture and why?

Emotion is a crucial variable in mental health. Releasing emotions is gradually recognized as an important alternative mental health therapy. However, releasing emotions has to be done is a socially accepted way to avoid stigma. Therefore, materials that can provide privacy and insulation are preferred. However, current soundproofing materials, such as insulation, acoustical panels, and soundproofing boards, are heavy, not portable, industrially synthetic, and expensive. Even though natural materials, such as sheep’s wool and cotton, can be eco-friendly and sustainable, they only replace industrially produced synthetic materials without meeting the need for providing a private space for emotional release in shared spaces. Therefore, an innovative product is needed to offer alternative care for people to prevent emotional suppression and the negative effects.

(2) What living system would you use?

I would like to use Mycelium, the vegetative network of fungi, to form a naturally porous, fibrous structure capable of dissipating sound energy through internal air cavities and frictional interactions, which has the potential to replace fossil-based composites and industrial materials. This research aims to further explore Pleurotus ostreatus due to its structure and density.

(3) How would you use automation?

I would use a desktop liquid-handling robot, such as an Opentrons system, to automate the preparation and screening stages of my Pleurotus ostreatus biomaterial research. The robot could perform standardized liquid-handling tasks associated with preparing experimental conditions, distributing samples or reagents, and collecting measurements from multiple experimental conditions in parallel.

(4) How much would you need to make, and how long would it take?

All I need is one functioning prototype. If the prototype is built successfully, manufacturing will depend on market demand. For the prototype, I hope it takes a term with lab access. For manufacturing, it depends on variables such as sponsorship, so I don’t know.

(5) What don’t you know yet?

I don’t know if I can make a prototype. The theory works on paper, but I don’t know how to overexpress a gene or translate experimentation into production. I don’t know if I will find all the materials, such as reagents, or regular lab access for this project.