MAIA: An open-source, modular, bioreactor for cities

Abstract

AbstractThis work presents the design and fabrication of MAIA, an open-source, modular, low-cost, and portable bioreactor for democratizing the development of synthetic biology based projects for urban settings. The integration of open-source synthetic biology (synbio) tools in a city’s infrastructure planning and design is crucial for addressing the great challenges related to urbanization. Synbio tools have great potential to help us complement our current sensing and actuating urban infrastructure. The MAIA reactor controls bacterial growth variables, making it suitable for cell-based experiments while reducing the need for expensive laboratory equipment. Its low-cost and open-source design allow for easy replication and modification, making it accessible to a broader audience. Its portability makes it suitable for use outside of traditional laboratory settings. We qualitatively and quantitatively validated the reactor’s capability to support cell growth, stimulate gene expression, and act as a creative tool for students and users.