Scientists Unveil Artificial Cells with Groundbreaking Potential for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering!
In a groundbreaking international study spearheaded by the University of Strathclyde, artificial cells constructed from synthetic materials have been successfully engineered. These materials exhibit properties akin to living cells, opening up potential applications in areas such as drug delivery and tissue engineering.
The microscopic structures, generated through the innovative process of biocatalytic polymerisation-induced self-assembly (bioPISA), mark a significant leap forward in the realm of synthetic biology. These artificial cells possess the capability to synthesize various proteins internally, including a fluorescent protein, the structural actin protein that facilitates the formation of a cytoskeleton-like structure, and the enzyme alkaline phosphatase, mimicking the biomineralisation process observed in human bones.
Drug Delivery
Collaborating with researchers from the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany, the University of Basel, and the Adolphe Merkle Institute of the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, the study has been published in the journal Nature Chemistry.
Professor Nico Bruns, a Visiting Professor in Strathclyde’s Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry and a co-leader of the study, explained, “This is a straightforward yet effective method for preparing artificial cells. In future endeavors, our goal is to leverage proteins expressed in these artificial cells to catalyze further polymerisations, thus emulating the growth and replication of natural cells.”
Dr. Andrea Belluati, who was affiliated with both Darmstadt and Strathclyde during the research, stated, “Our study bridges a critical gap in synthetic biology, merging the realm of synthetic materials with enzymatic processes to create complex artificial cells, mirroring the characteristics of real cells. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for creating cell mimics that not only resemble biological cells structurally but also functionally.”
Artificial cells serve as vital microreactors for enhancing chemical reactions and molecular systems engineering. Additionally, they function as hosts for synthetic biology pathways and are invaluable tools for studying the origins of life. The research received funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation through the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-Inspired Materials, an EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship for Dr. Belluati, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council as part of UKRI.
