Researchers have fused living and non-living cells for the first time in a way that allows them to work together, paving the way for new applications.
The system, created by a team from Imperial College London, encapsulates biological cells within an artificial cell. Using this, researchers can harness the natural ability of biological cells to process chemicals while protecting them from the environment.
This system could lead to applications such as cellular ‘batteries’ powered by photosynthesis, synthesis of drugs inside the body, and biological sensors that can withstand harsh conditions.
This is a paradigm shift in thinking about the way we design artificial cells, which will help accelerate research on applications in healthcare and beyond.
Professor Oscar Ces
Previous artificial cell design has involved taking parts of biological cell ‘machinery’ – such as enzymes that support chemical reactions – and putting them into artificial casings. The new study, published today in Scientific Reports, goes one step further and encapsulates entire cells in artificial casings.
The artificial cells also contain enzymes that work in concert with the biological cell to produce new chemicals. In the proof-of-concept experiment, the artificial cell systems produced a fluorescent chemical that allowed the researchers to confirm all was working as expected.
Paradigm shift
Lead researcher Professor Oscar Ces, from the Department of Chemistry at Imperial, said: “Biological cells can perform extremely complex functions, but can be difficult to control when trying to harness one aspect. Artificial cells can be programmed more easily but we cannot yet build in much complexity.
“Our new system bridges the gap between these two approaches by fusing whole biological cells with artificial ones, so that the machinery of both works in concert to produce what we need. This is a paradigm shift in thinking about the way we design artificial cells, which will help accelerate research on applications in healthcare and beyond.”
To create the system, the team used microfluidics: directing liquids through small channels. Using water and oil, which do not mix, they were able to make droplets of a defined size that contained the biological cells and enzymes. They then applied an artificial coating to the droplets to provide protection, creating an artificial cell environment.
They tested these artificial cells in a solution high in copper, which is usually highly toxic to biological cells. The team were still able to detect fluorescent chemicals in the majority of the artificial cells, meaning the biological cells were still alive and functioning inside. This ability would be useful in the human body, where the artificial cell casing would protect the foreign biological cells from attack by the body’s immune system.
Controllable and customisable system
First author of the study Dr Yuval Elani, an EPSRC Research Fellow from the Department of Chemistry, said: “The system we designed is controllable and customisable. You can create different sizes of artificial cells in a reproducible manner, and there is the potential to add in all kinds of cell machinery, such as chloroplasts for performing photosynthesis or engineered microbes that act as sensors.”
To improve the functionality of these artificial cell systems, the next step is to engineer the artificial coating to act more like a biological membrane, but with special functions.
For example, if the membrane could be designed to open and release the chemicals produced within only in response to certain signals, they could be used to deliver drugs to specific areas of the body. This would be useful for example in cancer treatment to release targeted drugs only at the site of a tumour, reducing side effects.
While a system like that may be a way off yet, the team say this is a promising leap in the right direction. The work is the first example of fusing living and non-living components to emerge from Imperial and King’s College’s new FABRICELL centre for artificial cell science.
Learn more: Artificial and biological cells work together as mini chemical factories
The Latest on: Artificial cells
[google_news title=”” keyword=”cancer diagnosis” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Artificial cells
- Julia Bradbury is 'grateful' for breast cancer diagnosis: 'It might sound a weird thing to say...'on May 14, 2024 at 2:56 am
Julia Bradbury' is "grateful" for her breast cancer diagnosis. The 53-year-old presenter admitted that finding a lump in her breast during a mammogram in June 2021 and then eventually undergoing a ...
- Doctor still cancer-free almost a year after incurable brain tumour diagnosis - thanks to his own pioneering treatmenton May 14, 2024 at 2:21 am
Australian Professor Richard Scolyer was named one of the Australians Of The Year for his life-saving work on melanoma - the basis of which is being used to treat his own incurable cancer.
- Ask Amy: A relative has been diagnosed with cancer, and I don’t know what to sayon May 14, 2024 at 12:19 am
I think about my sister-in-law and brother a lot and want to be a comforting presence and do something for her, but I am at a loss.
- 'Dancing With the Stars' Alum's Skin Cancer Diagnosis: Harry Jowsey Calls Health Scare a 'Rude Awakening'on May 13, 2024 at 7:48 pm
Dancing With the Stars alum Harry Jowsey is ready to live life to the fullest, despite a recent skin cancer diagnosis. The 26-year-old revealed his cancer diagnosis in April but he refuses to let it ...
- Olivia Munn Reveals Hysterectomy, Freezing Her Eggs After Breast Cancer Diagnosison May 13, 2024 at 6:08 pm
Munn spoke with 'Vogue' regarding the latest of five surgeries she has undergone since she was diagnosed with luminal B breast cancer last year.
- Olivia Munn and John Mulaney weren't 'done growing' their family when she was diagnosed with cancer — so they froze embryos. Here's how the process works amid treatment.on May 13, 2024 at 4:58 pm
Olivia Munn is sharing more about her treatment for breast cancer in a new interview with Vogue. The 43-year-old actress — who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer called luminal B ...
- Olivia Munn reveals she froze her eggs for a third time after breast cancer diagnosison May 13, 2024 at 1:02 pm
Olivia Munn has revealed that she froze her eggs at three different points in her life.
- Olivia Munn reveals ‘big decision’ after ‘aggressive’ breast cancer diagnosison May 13, 2024 at 12:05 pm
Olivia Munn revealed her family plans for the future following her diagnosis and treatment for an aggressive form of breast cancer.
- Olivia Munn Underwent Hysterectomy After Breast Cancer Diagnosison May 13, 2024 at 8:46 am
Actress and "X-men" star Olivia Munn has revealed that she underwent egg retrieval and then a hysterectomy after being ...
via Bing News