Touchlight, a biotechnology CDMO pioneering enzymatic DNA production has been awarded a second grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to continue work with Professor Shelley Minteer's researchgroup, Missouri University of Science and Technology, to further propel the development of DNA-enabled biobatteries.
Biobatteries use enzymes to generate electricity from the breakdown of complex fuels, such as carbohydrates, fatty acids and alcohols. The enzymes require proper immobilization and stabilization for optimal performance; DNA hydrogels arean attractive solution, however DNA scalability and cost has previously hindered this approach. Touchlight’s revolutionary “doggybone” DNA (dbDNA?) platform offers DNA production capabilities at the scale and purity required to solve these issues.
Following successful proof of concept studies in the original grant from ONR and Dstl, Touchlight has been awarded an additional USD 0.7M to develop a biobattery prototype with real-world applicability – as well as to assess stabilityand portability via environmental testing.
These innovative biobatteries hold the promise of addressing critical challenges associated with conventional portable power sources, including limited energy storage capacity and environmental impact.  By combining Touchlight’s proprietaryenzymatic DNA amplification platform with the cutting edge biobattery research of Professor Shelley Minteer's research group, this project aims to build on a successful foundation and continue to advance toward realising that promise.
The extended grant signifies a continued commitment to innovation and collaboration in pursuit of sustainable energy solutions.