Light-driven artificial photosynthesis: integrating inorganic photosensitizers with biological systems for sustainable biosynthesis

Abstract

Traditional microbial fermentation faces critical scientific bottlenecks that severely restrict its industrial potential, primarily its dependence on organic carbon sources and inherent redox conflicts. Light-driven biosynthesis, which utilizes solar energy to directly drive metabolic reactions, has emerged as a revolutionary paradigm to overcome these limitations. This review provides a timely and systematic dissection of artificial photosynthesis systems that leverage inorganic photosensitizers, which are a class of materials offering superior light absorption and tunable electronic properties. We meticulously examine the core principles, strategic design of system components (including materials, biocatalysts, and their interfaces), and ground-breaking application progress across five key domains: bioplastics, antimicrobial peptides, terpenoids, pigments, and fuels. Beyond summarizing achievements, we critically assess persistent challenges such as the dependency on sacrificing agents and material-biological compatibility. Finally, we provide a forward-looking perspective, outlining how cutting-edge trends like artificial intelligence, high-throughput screening, and advanced system integration are poised to accelerate the development of efficient and scalable solar-driven bio-manufacturing platforms.