Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2026-10-01Epub Date: 2026-03-25DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.02.006
Jimin Park, Jeongmin Kim, Sungchan Cho, Woojung Shin
{"title":"In vitro platforms for reconstructing skin-microbiome interactions.","authors":"Jimin Park, Jeongmin Kim, Sungchan Cho, Woojung Shin","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.02.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.02.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The growing recognition of the skin microbiome in regulating the host's metabolic and immune functions has spurred the development of in vitro platforms designed to recapitulate their intricate interactions, aiding research into both skin-microbiome and microbe-microbe interactions within their distinct niches. Despite these efforts, challenges remain in dissecting skin-microbiome interactions, especially due to the absence of a standardized platform for the long-term coculture of bacterial and mammalian cells. In this review, we highlight the key components in modeling an in vitro skin ecosystem and discuss the therapeutic potential of skin commensals, including recent advances and applications for engineered live biotherapeutics targeting skin diseases, to underscore the translational value of in vitro skin-microbiome interaction studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2926-2940"},"PeriodicalIF":16.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147515018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ana Tinoco, José Pedro Carvalho, Filipa Gonçalves, André da Costa, Madalena Martins, Artur Cavaco-Paulo
{"title":"Biotechnology as a platform for hair cosmetic science.","authors":"Ana Tinoco, José Pedro Carvalho, Filipa Gonçalves, André da Costa, Madalena Martins, Artur Cavaco-Paulo","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.09.011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.09.011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hair cosmetics are undergoing a transition from conventional formulations based on passive surface deposition toward biotechnology-driven systems designed to interact with hair and scalp at the molecular level. Recent advances in proteins, peptides, biobased polymers, and responsive delivery platforms are enabling targeted repair of keratin damage, controlled reshaping, durable protection, and modulation of follicular activity. These technologies exploit biological specificity, renewable feedstocks, and programmable material properties to address limitations associated with traditional petrochemical ingredients. In this review, we examine how biotechnology is emerging as a unifying platform for hair cosmetic science, integrating biomolecular engineering, smart materials, computational design, and artificial intelligence to create more effective, sustainable, and biologically inspired hair-care solutions.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":16.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149115345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Toward unbiased objective functions in constraint-based modeling.","authors":"Weihang Dong, Jens Nielsen, Haiyan Li, Feiran Li, Yu Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.01.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.01.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The objective function is important to constraint-based modeling, but setting it has traditionally been subjective, limiting predictive accuracy. We expose the biases of commonly used objective functions and propose a paradigm shift toward unbiased objective functions powered by artificial intelligence, offering a promising avenue for metabolic engineering and biomedical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2827-2830"},"PeriodicalIF":16.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147445221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2026-10-01Epub Date: 2026-04-17DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.03.025
Johannes Windisch, Csaba Gergely, Maximilian Pfeiffle, Lisa Galaba, Finn Dani, Michael Gelinsky, Anja Lode, Tomasz Jungst
{"title":"Green volumetric bioprinting: building photosynthetically active structures with light-scattering microalgae.","authors":"Johannes Windisch, Csaba Gergely, Maximilian Pfeiffle, Lisa Galaba, Finn Dani, Michael Gelinsky, Anja Lode, Tomasz Jungst","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.03.025","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.03.025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microalgae are robust microorganisms with versatile metabolic functions, including oxygen generation, making them crucial components in wastewater treatment plants, food production, or extraterrestrial life-support systems. Immobilizing microalgae in hydrogels could eliminate costly separation steps required in free-floating cultivation. Volumetric bioprinting (VBP), enabling rapid fabrication of large, complex constructs from cell-laden hydrogels, presents a promising solution. This study investigates the possibilities and limitations of VBP with microalgae in poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate-cellulose nanofibrils (PEGDA-CNF) hydrogels. Despite chlorophyll-induced interference, the printing of stable 3D structures is achievable in high-resolution up to certain cell densities. During cultivation, printed microalgae exhibited exceptionally high viability and cell density compared to alternative bioprinting methods, and their photosynthetic efficiency remained high even in the nonphysiological PEGDA-CNF environment, as confirmed by pulse-amplitude modulated fluorometry and oxygen measurements. This work demonstrates the feasibility of integrating microalgae into VBP, enabling scalable production of photosynthetically active geometries and significantly simplifying their implementation in cascade-based processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"3034-3053"},"PeriodicalIF":16.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147718397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Deep learning-guided discovery and engineering of binding peptides for accelerated enzymatic degradation of polyethylene terephthalate.","authors":"Yidi Liu, Jianqiang Hu, Ke Tong, Xiaoyan Chen, Zhisheng Wei, Yihang Shen, Yueheng Niu, Jun Wan, Zhiyu Shen, Hanzhi Weng, Zihao Zhang, Yiming Zhao, Zhanzhi Liu, Jing Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.03.012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.03.012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Enzymatic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) degradation holds promise for environmental restoration. However, limited substrate catalytic capacity hinders its application in addressing PET plastic contamination. To enhance enzyme-substrate interaction, effective anchoring strategies are essential. This study presents a novel deep learning approach to identify and engineer high-performance PET-binding peptides from genomic data. Utilizing this approach, we discovered promising PET-binding peptides from the Ideonella sakaiensis genome and fused them with an optimized Ideonella sakaiensis PETase mutant to enhance PET hydrolysis. Remarkably, the Efficient Attention-Based Model for Computational Protein Design-optimized fusion proteins achieved a 2.0- to 24.8-fold increase in PET hydrolysis compared with the enzyme without an anchor. Importantly, we elucidated the mechanism by which the binding peptide domain enhances the catalytic activity of the enzyme against PET substrates, supported by comprehensive molecular dynamics simulations. This work establishes a robust deep learning framework for biocatalyst design and provides potent enzymatic solutions to address global PET plastic pollution.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2957-2982"},"PeriodicalIF":16.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147718321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katarzyna I Jankowska, Upendra K Katneni, Brian C Lin, Hannah M Brenner, Randilu Amarasinghe, Nigam Padhiar, Patrick Dopler, Nobuko Hamasaki-Katagiri, Wells W Wu, Haojie Zhu, Hideki Taguchi, Je-Nie Phue, Paul Rahul, Sean Smith, Luis Santana-Quintero, Ofer Kimchi, Ryan C Hunt, Nicholas C Hurst, Emilee Knowlton, Nikolai F Schwabe, Anton A Komar, Jeremy W Fry, Chava Kimchi-Sarfaty
{"title":"Synonymous sequence design controls the folding, processing, and activity of the therapeutic protein ADAMTS13.","authors":"Katarzyna I Jankowska, Upendra K Katneni, Brian C Lin, Hannah M Brenner, Randilu Amarasinghe, Nigam Padhiar, Patrick Dopler, Nobuko Hamasaki-Katagiri, Wells W Wu, Haojie Zhu, Hideki Taguchi, Je-Nie Phue, Paul Rahul, Sean Smith, Luis Santana-Quintero, Ofer Kimchi, Ryan C Hunt, Nicholas C Hurst, Emilee Knowlton, Nikolai F Schwabe, Anton A Komar, Jeremy W Fry, Chava Kimchi-Sarfaty","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.09.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.09.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Synonymous recoding is widely used to enhance therapeutic protein expression, yet its broader effects on biogenesis and function remain unclear. We systematically examined how synonymous recoding shapes protein structure, processing, and activity using plasma protease ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 repeats, member 13) and its truncated MDTCS (metalloprotease, disintegrin-like, thrombospondin type 1, cysteine-rich, and spacer) variant across cell-free expression, transient transfection, lentiviral delivery, and targeted genomic integration. Wild-type, codon-optimized, and codon-pair-optimized constructs displayed pronounced, system-dependent differences in intracellular proteolysis, secretion, enzymatic performance, and post-translational modifications. Targeted genomic integration produced the highest protein fidelity, whereas transient and lentiviral systems yielded lower extracellular protein levels, particularly for codon-pair-optimized variants. Glycoproteomic analyses revealed distinct glycosylation patterns among synonymous constructs, indicating altered maturation, while Ankyron-based assays detected differences in molecular surface properties of recoding variants. Optimized MDTCS exhibited increased catalytic activity but reduced substrate affinity. These findings demonstrate that synonymous recoding can reshape proteostasis and activity, emphasizing the need for comprehensive evaluation of engineered therapeutic genes beyond yield.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":16.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149115357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2026-10-01Epub Date: 2026-09-19DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.09.007
Alexandra P Platt, Yannick J Bomble, Robert S Paton
{"title":"Designing artificial cofactors and their enzymes together.","authors":"Alexandra P Platt, Yannick J Bomble, Robert S Paton","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.09.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.09.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>When replacing expensive redox cofactors, making biomimetic cofactors with desirable thermostability and redox properties is only half of the equation; enzymes must also be able to use them. Ji and colleagues confront that trade-off by pairing the development of a thermostable carbocyclic cofactor with a dedicated regeneration enzyme for sustained biocatalysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2821-2823"},"PeriodicalIF":16.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149008878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2026-10-01Epub Date: 2026-03-13DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.01.009
Sneha Pushpa Ramesan, Jasmitha Boovadira Poonacha, Dilan Pathirana, Simon Merkt, Christian Maass, Jan Hasenauer, Elena S Reckzeh
{"title":"Next-generation discovery: empowering organoid research with machine learning, artificial intelligence, and mathematical modeling.","authors":"Sneha Pushpa Ramesan, Jasmitha Boovadira Poonacha, Dilan Pathirana, Simon Merkt, Christian Maass, Jan Hasenauer, Elena S Reckzeh","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.01.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.01.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Organoids have rapidly matured into powerful model systems. The field is pushing organoids toward architectural sophistication and functional fidelity, with longitudinal experiments producing ever-larger and more complex datasets. As a result, computational methods have become indispensable for experimental design, data analysis, and predictive modeling, as well as for obtaining mechanistic insights. In this review, we survey recent progress at the interface of organoid research and computational approaches, discuss key challenges on both fronts, and outline future directions to maximize impact in biomedical research through convergent, synergistic efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2909-2925"},"PeriodicalIF":16.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147460443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2026-10-01Epub Date: 2026-04-02DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.12.028
Nil K Pandey, Hong Huy Tran, Edward B Steager, David P Cormode, Hyun Koo
{"title":"Can nanozymes make the leap to the clinic? Advances, hurdles, and prospects.","authors":"Nil K Pandey, Hong Huy Tran, Edward B Steager, David P Cormode, Hyun Koo","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.12.028","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.12.028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nanozymes (enzyme-like catalytic nanomaterials) represent a new generation of artificial enzymes designed to overcome key limitations of their natural counterparts, including high production costs, low stability, and challenging storage requirements. Their versatility spans biosensing, bioimaging, therapeutics, and environmental remediation, attracting widespread interest across disciplines. Recent advances have moved nanozymes beyond benchtop proof of concept, with multiple in vivo studies and early clinical investigations demonstrating their translational potential. However, progress toward the clinic remains constrained by limited mechanistic understanding under physiologically relevant conditions; concerns over safety, biodegradability, and long-term efficacy; and uncertainties in scalable manufacturing, market feasibility, and regulatory approval. This review highlights recent breakthroughs in biomedical nanozymes and identifies key knowledge gaps that must be addressed to accelerate successful clinical translation and commercialization.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2870-2890"},"PeriodicalIF":16.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13054652/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147616830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in biotechnologyPub Date : 2026-10-01Epub Date: 2026-03-05DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.01.008
Ji-Yong Sung, Seung-Min Park, Jae-Ho Cheong
{"title":"Quantum computing for biotechnological innovation: transformative potential in biomedicine and drug discovery.","authors":"Ji-Yong Sung, Seung-Min Park, Jae-Ho Cheong","doi":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.01.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.01.008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Quantum computing has emerged as a potential catalyst for addressing computational bottlenecks that increasingly constrain biotechnologies, including drug discovery, structural biology, and precision medicine. As biological datasets grow in scale and complexity, classical high-performance computing struggles to efficiently model molecular interactions and high-dimensional biological systems. Recent advances in hybrid quantum-classical algorithms and quantum-enhanced machine learning have enabled early proof-of-concept applications on noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices, offering new strategies for molecular simulation, pattern recognition, and optimization. In this opinion article, we critically assess where quantum computing may deliver realistic near-term value for biomedicine, emphasize hybrid workflows as the most viable path forward, and outline how quantum technologies could complement, not replace, existing computational paradigms as the field progresses toward fault-tolerant systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":23324,"journal":{"name":"Trends in biotechnology","volume":" ","pages":"2835-2848"},"PeriodicalIF":16.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147370176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}