Development of Solid-State Storage for Cell-Free Expression Systems

The fragility of biological systems during storage, transport,and utilization necessitates reliable cold-chain infrastructure andlimits the potential of biotechnological applications. In order tounlock the broad applications of existing and emerging biologicaltechnologies, we report the development of a novel solid-state storageplatform for complex biologics. The resulting solid-state biologics(SSB) platform meets four key requirements: facile rehydration ofsolid materials, activation of biochemical activity, ability to supportcomplex downstream applications and functionalities, and compatibilityfor deployment in a variety of reaction formats and environments.As a model system of biochemical complexity, we utilized crudeEscherichia colicell extracts that retain activecellular metabolism and support robust levels of in vitro transcription and translation. We demonstrate broad versatilityand utility of SSB through proof-of-concepts for on-demand in vitro biomanufacturing of proteins at a milliliter scale,the activation of downstream CRISPR activity, as well as deploymenton paper-based devices. SSBs unlock a breadth of applications in biomanufacturing,discovery, diagnostics, and education in resource-limited environmentson Earth and in space.