Harnessing the Power of Photosynthesis: from Current Engineering Strategies to Cell Factory Applications

Abstract

Photosynthesis has garnered significant interest due to its potential for retrofitting and its intrinsic enzyme-mediated metabolic processes, which can convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into biomass powered by solar energy. However, natural photosynthesis is limited by factors such as low photosynthetic efficiency and constraints on the range of output products. To address these issues, researchers have developed various strategies for designing and engineering photosynthetic systems. These strategies include nanomaterial-assisted approaches to enhance light absorption and accelerate electron transfer, microfluidic technologies for precise manipulation of enzyme modules, synthetic biology techniques to optimize metabolic pathways, and photo-bioelectrochemical systems (PBESs) for efficient utilization of photosynthetic electrons. Inspired by these, numerous applications have emerged in the fields of artificial organelles, promotion of hypoxic tissue healing, bioproduction, and environmental production and sustainability. This review provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles of photosynthesis, encompassing light and carbon reactions. Additionally, it offers an overview of recent strategies for the design, structuring, and engineering of photosynthetic systems, while discussing several applications of photosynthesis. Finally, this review highlights the potential of engineered photosynthetic systems to address challenges in energy and matter conversion across various fields, offering insights into the future of sustainable, photosynthesis-based technologies.