Protein-based lighting

Winner: 2021 Materials Chemistry Division Horizon Prize:
Stephanie L Kwolek Award

For stabilisation of fluorescent proteins in polymer coatings and their use in bio-based lighting technology.

Celebrate the protein-based lighting team

#RSCPrizes

Collaborators from Technical University of Münich, the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, the Materials Physics Center and the Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials have created sustainable, stable and highly performing light-emitting diodes (LEDs), using fluorescent proteins as colour filters.

In biology, there are fluorescent proteins that exhibit excellent photoluminescence – however, these proteins are not stable when outside of the cell. The team developed a method whereby the proteins are stabilised in dry polymer films, and they retain their photoluminescent properties for years. The properties of the polymer protecting the proteins also means that they can be used in diverse applications.

This has significance: these fluorescent proteins can be used to make LEDs that are higher performing, more efficient and sustainable than most current LEDs.

Typical LED lighting uses cerium or cadmium compounds that are environmentally hazardous, costly to make and rely on trace elements, without any efficient recycling methods. The replacement of these LEDs with ones made with fluorescent proteins would therefore be more sustainable.

The international team have created a bridge between biology and optoelectronics, which has opened opportunities for other researchers to investigate fluorescent protein-based energy devices, as well as new stabilisation techniques. In addition to applications in lighting, these bio-LEDs have potential for use in medical diagnosis and industrial reaction catalysis.

The 2021 Horizon Prize nicely highlights our efforts towards shaping a new concept in artificial illumination. Safety, efficiency, and stability have driven our technological society. Sustainability is our next big step.

The team

See full team

Carmen F. Aguiño, PhD student, IMDEA Materials
Aldo R. Boccaccini, Full Professor, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Aitziber L. Cortajarena, Ikerbasque Research Professor, Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA)
Rubén D. Costa, Full Professor, Technical University of Münich
Pedro B. Coto, CSIC Research Scientist, Materials Physics Center (CSIC)
Haider Dakhil, Post-doc, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Rainer Detsch, Research lecturer, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Anna Espasa, PhD student, IMDEA Materials
Juan P. Fernández-Blázquez, Senior Post-doc, IMDEA Materials
Monika Kostrzewa, PhD student, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Martina Lang, PhD student, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Lukas Niklaus, PhD student, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Marlene Pröschel, PhD student, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Daniel Sanchez-deAlcazar, PhD student, Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA)
Uwe Sonnewald, Full Professor, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Samira Tansaz, PhD student, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Michael D. Weber, PhD student, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Katharina T. Weber, Master Student, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Andreas Wierschem, Professor, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

Q+A

Rubén D. Costa, Full Professor, Technical University of Münich

What different strengths did different people bring to the team?

Merging biology and technology requires a huge group of experts in different fields – which are all part of this prize. It was beautiful to have the opportunity to work with people in biology, biochemistry and protein engineering. We also worked with people specialising in engineering and biomaterials, as well as computational physicists, simulating the interactions between proteins and the polymers. We had chemists, like myself, looking at how to stabilise the materials. We also had people specialising in the technology and the final application – looking how to make the device and how to analyse the data.

What does good research culture look like or mean to you?

We have a very multidisciplinary, multicultural team here. I am Spanish myself, and we’ve been working with people in Japan, Italy and Germany. Different characters bring different approaches and ways of working in the lab. It can be a challenge to nurture everyone’s way of working – some of us are more spontaneous and open, talking freely, whereas others like to be sure before they open their mouth, and this differs between cultures. In the end, everybody learns from each other and we also have to be open minded – if your brain is open, beautiful things can come out.

Pedro B. Coto, CSIC Research Scientist

What were the biggest challenges in this project?

There were (and still are) several challenges. First, stabilisation of a protein outside the physiological environment and preventing denaturation so it can keep its structure and functionality to be used as active elements in optoelectronic devices. Second, prevent overheating which can lead to denaturation. Third, understanding other quenching mechanisms that have a strong impact in performance of the device. Some of these topics are the main focus of our ongoing research.

What inspires or motivates your team?

Curiosity, the need to understand why things happen is, perhaps, the biggest motivation. Regarding inspiration, well, there is not a single source for inspiration. We learn a lot from others’ research works, and of course not only in chemistry. In addition, we look how nature works. And we borrow inspiration from all these sources.