The Vegan Villain Sets Out to The End of Summer: Functionalized Coatings as Biohybrid UV-Sensors

This study presents the development of coatings as biohybrid UV sensors containing E. coli biomass modified with photoconvertible fluorescent proteins as the responsive elements. These sensors indicate UV light exposure by a color shift from green to red, occurring within 15 min of irradiation with UV-A light at 400 nm. The green coatings demonstrate the ability to undergo photoconversion after extended storage (>1 year), resulting in a stable and irreversible change in color. This research highlights the potential for more sustainable formulations incorporating biomass as a substitute filler. These fillers can be seen as a platform to equip coatings with special functionalities like providing color or UV sensing capability.