Bioengineering

Embedded Yeast Colony

Our vision and goal

Bioengineering & Functional Biomaterials

We develop advanced functional materials by combining polymer chemistry, materials science, biotechnology, and additive manufacturing. Our research focuses on the design and characterisation of engineered living materials, functional hydrogels, biohybrid systems, and responsive biomaterials.

A central goal is to understand and control interactions between biological systems and their surrounding materials. By integrating microorganisms with engineered polymeric matrices, we aim to develop materials that combine biological functionality with tailored mechanical, structural, and physicochemical properties.

Our work contributes to the development of sustainable technologies for biomanufacturing, environmental biotechnology, microbial immobilisation, and sensing applications.

Research areas

Engineered Living Materials (ELMs)

We design and investigate engineered living materials that combine living microorganisms with synthetic or bio-based matrices. Our research addresses microbial viability, growth, spatial confinement, material–cell interactions, and biological functionality.

We investigate how material properties influence microbial behaviour and how these interactions can be controlled to improve material performance and enable applications in sustainable bioproduction.

Functional Hydrogels and 3D Printing

We develop and characterise polymeric hydrogel systems suitable for additive manufacturing and biological applications.

Our research includes photopolymerisable and stimuli-responsive polymer networks, with particular emphasis on mechanical properties, swelling, molecular diffusion, structural stability, and printability.

We use 3D printing to fabricate functional structures and integrate biological components into engineered materials.

Biohybrid Materials and Microbial Immobilisation

We investigate polymeric and porous materials that support microbial attachment, growth, and biological activity.

Our research focuses on material–microorganism interactions, microbial immobilisation, biofilm formation, and the development of functional biocarriers.

Potential applications include bioprocess engineering, fermentation, and biological wastewater treatment.

Bio-based Functional Materials and Sensing

We explore responsive and bio-based materials that undergo measurable changes in response to environmental conditions.

Research includes functional polymer films, colourimetric indicator systems, and sustainable material solutions for sensing and monitoring.

Potential applications include environmental monitoring, food packaging, and other systems requiring passive indication of changes in environmental conditions.

Highlights

• Development of 3D-printed engineered living materials for microbial cultivation and bioproduction.
• Design and characterisation of photopolymerisable and stimuli-responsive hydrogels.
• Investigation of the relationships between hydrogel properties, microbial confinement, cell behaviour, and material performance.
• Development and evaluation of porous polymeric materials for microbial immobilisation and biofilm formation.
• Exploration of bio-based responsive materials for sensing and monitoring applications.

Capabilities

Our interdisciplinary research combines materials development, biological experimentation, and computational analysis.

1. Design, synthesis, and modification of functional polymeric materials.
2. Hydrogel formulation, crosslinking, and additive manufacturing.
3. Integration and immobilisation of microorganisms in polymeric matrices.
4. Characterisation of mechanical properties, swelling, diffusion, and material stability.
5. Evaluation of microbial viability, growth, and material–cell interactions.
6. Investigation of porous polymeric structures and biofilm formation.
7. Development and characterisation of responsive functional materials.
8. Computational modelling of material behaviour and biological interactions.

Tools we use

• Extrusion-based additive manufacturing and 3D printing.
• UV-induced polymerisation and hydrogel crosslinking.
• Mechanical testing and physicochemical characterisation.
• Optical and scanning electron microscopy.
• Flow cytometry for cellular analysis and viability assessment.
• Microbial cultivation and functional characterisation.
• Image analysis and colourimetric measurements.
• Electrochemical methods and characterisation, including cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
• Computational modelling and numerical simulation.

Primary contacts

Hans PriksResearch Fellow in Biomaterials Technology

Tarmo TammProfessor of Materials Engineering

Examples of student research

• Synthesis and characterisation of methacrylated hydrogels for engineered living material matrices.
• Investigation of microbial growth and adhesion in porous polymeric materials.
• Characterisation of functional polymeric materials for biological applications.

Possible topics for student projects

• Development of hydrogel formulations for 3D printing.
• Design and characterisation of engineered living materials.
• Microbial immobilisation in functional polymeric matrices.
• Development of porous biocarriers for environmental biotechnology.
• Characterisation of microbial–material interactions.
• Development of bio-based functional films and indicator systems.
• Microscopy and computational modelling of biohybrid materials.

Students interested in bachelor's, master's, or other research projects are welcome to contact us to discuss available topics.

Portfolio

Research Projects

Our research activities include:

• Engineered living materials for sustainable biomanufacturing – Development of microbial-containing polymeric matrices and investigation of their biological functionality.
• Functional hydrogels and additive manufacturing – Design and characterisation of printable polymer networks for biological and technological applications.
• Polymeric biocarriers and microbial immobilisation – Investigation of porous materials and microbial–material interactions for environmental and bioprocessing applications.
• Bio-based functional materials and sensing – Development of responsive films and material systems for monitoring environmental conditions.

Selected Publications

• H. Priks, V. Zadin, I. R. Talgre, I. Zekker, T. Tamm (2025) Linking physical properties of micellar hydrogels to engineered living material performance, Materials & Design, 256, 114347.

• H. Priks et al. (2024) Enhanced anammox-mediated nitrogen removal in bioelectrochemical systems at prolonged negative electrode potentials, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31, 63312–63324.

• I. Rebane, H. Priks, K. J. Levin et al. (2023) Microbial growth and adhesion of Escherichia coli in elastomeric silicone foams with commonly used additives, Scientific Reports, 13, 8541.

• T. Butelmann, H. Priks, Z. Parent et al. (2021) Metabolism Control in 3D-Printed Living Materials Improves Fermentation, ACS Applied Bio Materials, 4, 7195–7203.

• H. Priks, T. Butelmann, A. Illarionov et al. (2020) Physical Confinement Impacts Cellular Phenotypes within Living Materials, ACS Applied Bio Materials, 3, 4273–4281.

Outreach and Collaboration

We welcome interdisciplinary scientific collaborations and industrial partnerships in functional biomaterials, engineered living materials, additive manufacturing, and environmental biotechnology.

For collaboration opportunities or student research enquiries, please contact the researchers listed above.