Modification of cell surfaces with synthetic polymers is a promising approach for regulating cellular behavior. Here we describe a genetically controlled strategy for selectively encapsulating single yeast cells in synthetic microniches comprised of cross-linked phenol-modified alginate and chitosan hydrogel capsules. Our system links inducible gene expression with enzyme-mediated hydrogel polymerization and provides a novel genotype-phenotype linkage whereby only cells carrying a requisite gene encoding a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent oxidoreductase undergo autonomous enzyme-mediated surface polymerization resulting in formation of hydrogel capsules. The composition of the hydrogel capsules is highly tunable and the capsule sizes are pH-responsive, allowing for control of capsule porosity and shell diameters over a range of 15-80 µm. The hydrogel capsules prevent extracellular proteins from reaching the cell surface, thereby conferring cellular immunity to lytic enzyme cocktails and rendering the hydrogel capsules cytoprotective against osmotic shock. We demonstrate the utility of this genetically controlled artificial hydrogel-encapsulated cell phenotype by isolating and enriching uniform eukaryotic cell lineages from genetically heterogeneous cell mixtures at 95-100% efficiency. The encapsulated cells remained viable and were capable of dividing and breaking free from their hydrogel capsules, allowing further propagation of selected cells. Our bottom-up approach to cellular compartmentalization links inducible intracellular genetic components with an artificial extracellular matrix that resists enzymatic lysis and mediates communication with the surrounding environment through a size-tunable and permeable hydrogel capsule.

Polyurethanes (PUs) are highly resistant materials used for building insulation or automotive seats. The polyurethane endof-life issue must be addressed by the development of efficient recycling techniques. Since conventional recycling processes are not suitable for thermosets, waste management of PU foam is particularly questioning. By coupling biological and chemical processes, this study aimed at developing a green recycling pathway for PU foam using enzymes for depolymerization. For instance, enzymatic degradation of a PU foam synthesized with polycaprolactone and toluene diisocyanate led to a weight loss of 25 % after 24 h of incubation. The corresponding degradation products were recovered and identified as 6-hydroxycaproic acid and a short acid-terminated diurethane. An organometallic-catalyzed synthesis of second-generation polymers from these building blocks was carried out. A polymer with a high average molar mass of 74000 (M w ) was obtained by mixing 50 % of recycled building blocks and 50 % of neat 6-hydroxycaproic acid. A poly(ester urethane) was synthesized without the use of toxic and decried polyisocyanates. It is the first time that a study offers the vision of a recycling loop starting from PU wastes and finishing with a second-generation polymer in a full circular approach.