Team Cyanovolt is dedicated to ensuring safety in the lab environment. We understand the importance of following proper safety procedures to keep team members safe and provide accuracy in our experiments. University of Rochester guidelines provide a framework for confidently working in the wet lab space while striving for innovation in clean bio-energy. Maintaining strict safety principles throughout our iGEM journey has strongly contributed to the development of our biophotovoltaic cell while minimizing potential risk-factors.
Cyanvolt’s biophotovoltaic cell was designed with the safety of its end users and the environment in mind.
Cyanobacteria require an intake of carbon dioxide during the growth process. However, once this phase is over, the part of the cell containing cyanobacteria can be sealed to prevent them from potentially leaking into the environment. In this way, the microorganisms will be unable to affect the outside environment, while the circuits that carry the electricity and the media that collects the ethanol can still be accessed.
Small concentrations of cyanobacteria are not generally harmful, but the Cyanovolt team has designed the construction of the biophotovoltaic cells with safety and efficiency in mind. The cyanobacteria in each cell are not free to move and spread within the cell, which could potentially lead to a release event during construction. Instead, the bacteria are immediately taken from their culture and screen-printed onto a paper substrate. This immobilizes the cells, preventing the chance of release during the cell construction process. In combination with the sealed cell design, the chances of our cyanobacteria breaching containment are almost nonexistent.
The genetic sequences we chose had to fit two criteria, that of being viable in cyanobacteria, but also characterized previously to be safe to work with in a BSL-1 level lab. All of the protein-coding genes we transformed into our cyanobacteria fit these criteria, with each potential part being carefully selected.
The name and function of each part is detailed below.
The casing and materials used to create the initial prototype of our biophotovoltaic cell were chosen to be non-toxic for both the humans creating the cell and the cyanobacteria held within it. It is primarily composed of safe plastics and metals, as well as a paper substrate used to hold the cyanobacteria, conductive inks, and wires. No out of the ordinary precautions need to be taken while handling or working on the cell. The small amounts and low concentrations of each material used result in a safe, chemically inert device.
Safety for the Cyanovolt team members was of foremost importance while developing our biophotovoltaic cell. The project involved many moving parts, schedules, and experiments, so maintaining safety standards was necessary for work to continue as planned.
Team members are required to wear appropriate PPE, including lab coats and gloves, to minimize the risk of exposure to chemicals and biological materials. Several days of training on wet lab safety and equipment use were provided before work could begin on the project. This included acceptable clothing and PPE usage.
All chemicals were handled with care, and kept in their original containers. We were mindful of any risks and hazards associated with the chemicals while performing our experiments. Protocols for storage and disposal were established before lab work began and followed throughout.
A sterile environment was maintained in the lab while working with living organisms such as E. coli and our cyanobacteria strains. Bunsen burners were utilized to sterilize the surrounding air and create an area under which we could do experiments without causing harm to human health or contaminating our samples. The autoclave was used to sterilize liquid media or to prepare solid waste for disposal.
The University of Rochester Facilities department handles waste management quickly and efficiently. Many easy to use procedures were already in place to handle biohazard and liquid waste. These procedures include but are not limited to having designated trash cans for autoclaved waste and trained staff members available to give aid for proper liquid waste disposal.
In the lab space we took constant care to avoid contamination of equipment or cross-contamination between our strains of bacteria and cyanobacteria. Standardized labeling schemes were used to avoid any mistakes and accidental mixing of our organisms.
All in all, the safety of our team members was held as the highest priority throughout our work. We remain dedicated to upholding the high standards of the iGEM competition.