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Accepted manuscript

Opto-chromogenesis: Projection mapping for controlling growth, photosynthesis, and chromatic behavior of photosynthetically living organisms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 June 2026

Shahriar Akbari*
Affiliation:
Center for Computation in architecture (CITA), Royal Danish Academy, architecture – design - conservation, Copenhagen, 1435, Copenhagen, Denmark
Martin Tamke
Affiliation:
Center for Computation in architecture (CITA), Royal Danish Academy, architecture – design - conservation, Copenhagen, 1435, Copenhagen, Denmark
Michael Kühl
Affiliation:
Marine Biology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Helsingør, 3000, Denmark
Sing Teng Chua
Affiliation:
Marine Biology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Helsingør, 3000, Denmark
Mette Ramsgaard Thomsen
Affiliation:
Center for Computation in architecture (CITA), Royal Danish Academy, architecture – design - conservation, Copenhagen, 1435, Copenhagen, Denmark
*
*Author for correspondence: Shahriar Akbari; Email: sakb@kglakademi.dk
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Abstract

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We present Opto-chromogenesis, a projection-mapping framework for spatiotemporal design of growth, photosynthesis, and pigmentation in bioprinted photosynthetic living materials. Extrusion-printed hydrogels containing the cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon are illuminated with calibrated patterns of light that allow us to design and regulate macroscale biomass distribution and the Complementary Chromatic Acclimation of the bacteria. The platform combines projector-based, spectrally tunable light delivery with 3Dscan guided geometric registration to impose defined photon irradiance on complex constructs. Experiments show that self-shading drives pigment shifts, lateral light intensity gradients produce differentiated growth, and targeted UV laser exposure can suppress growth, and projection mapping provides a novel method for modulating growth and color change. By outlining projector selection criteria, analysis of lab-scale growth studies and non-invasive monitoring techniques that demonstrate parallel screening of illumination conditions, the paper establishes a basis for creating a photosynthetic architectural material that can adapt its color to changing lighting condition and capture CO2.

Information

Type
Full Paper: Biodesign Conference
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press