What if we could program cells to perform the functions we need? Locbio, a startup in LAB+’s first cohort, is working to make that possible by developing a platform for creating custom biosensors that enables scientists to write new instructions into cells. In essence, it functions as a new programming language for biology.
Biosensors are proteins engineered to detect a specific molecule and respond when they find it. They work as a two-part system: one part recognizes the target molecule, while the other triggers a response, such as emitting light, producing fluorescence, activating an enzyme, or releasing a therapeutic molecule. Because these two components can be mixed and matched, researchers can change both what the biosensor detects and how it responds without having to redesign it from scratch—much like swapping LEGO bricks.
To create the molecule-recognition component, the researchers use artificial intelligence tools to design entirely new proteins that have never existed before. This makes it possible to engineer proteins that bind with remarkable specificity to almost any target molecule. Thanks to these AI-powered tools, a process that once required years of laboratory work can now begin with a computer-generated design in just a few hours.
Over the past few months, Locbio has experimentally validated this technology, demonstrating that it can detect a wide range of molecules, from drugs to proteins.
With this validation complete, the company is taking the next step: moving the platform beyond the laboratory and toward real-world applications. These include optimizing bioprocesses, developing new diagnostic tools, and engineering bacteria that can target tumors with precision while leaving healthy tissue unharmed.
“Ultimately, we are building a technology that aims to make the design of biological systems faster and more flexible, enabling new solutions to challenges in healthcare, industry, and biotechnology,” said Felipe Trajtenberg, CEO and founder of Locbio.
