CyberBiome is a programmable bio-digital organ, a wearable biosynthesis platform for personalized, on-demand production of therapeutics and biomolecules in space. The system contains 3D printed the bioreactors containing engineered living cells as the units of production. CyberBiome deploys optogenetics, which is alight-activated genetic circuit circuit allowing an astronaut to digitally control what biomolecules and therapeutics are produced, to respond to the their current health. Further, the compounds can be produced and administered in smaller quantities and possibly more continuously based on in-the-moment need, as well as during activities such as space excursions when traditional methods for responding to health issues may not be available. We envision this technology to enable continuous monitoring and intervention of astronaut health in a closed-loop, cutting down the time for health evaluations and allowing crew members to focus on theirmission while aspects of astronaut health are being continuously monitored and addressed.
Credits
Pat Pataranutaporn
Galina Mihaleva
Aria Xiying Bao
Brandon Dorr
David Kong
Christopher Voigt
Pattie Maes
MIT Media Lab & MIT Bioengineering Department
The project was supported by NASA Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) and MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative
This prototype was initiated in the MIT class on Fashion, Design & Technology - Interactive Intelligent Skin Taught by Skylar Tibbits in collaboration with Hussein Chalayan