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Elani Y. Interfacing Living and Synthetic Cells as an Emerging Frontier in Synthetic Biology. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 133:5662-5671. [PMID: 38505493 PMCID: PMC10946473 DOI: 10.1002/ange.202006941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The construction of artificial cells from inanimate molecular building blocks is one of the grand challenges of our time. In addition to being used as simplified cell models to decipher the rules of life, artificial cells have the potential to be designed as micromachines deployed in a host of clinical and industrial applications. The attractions of engineering artificial cells from scratch, as opposed to re-engineering living biological cells, are varied. However, it is clear that artificial cells cannot currently match the power and behavioural sophistication of their biological counterparts. Given this, many in the synthetic biology community have started to ask: is it possible to interface biological and artificial cells together to create hybrid living/synthetic systems that leverage the advantages of both? This article will discuss the motivation behind this cellular bionics approach, in which the boundaries between living and non-living matter are blurred by bridging top-down and bottom-up synthetic biology. It details the state of play of this nascent field and introduces three generalised hybridisation modes that have emerged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemical EngineeringImperial College LondonExhibition RoadLondonUK
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2
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Elani Y. Interfacing Living and Synthetic Cells as an Emerging Frontier in Synthetic Biology. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:5602-5611. [PMID: 32909663 PMCID: PMC7983915 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202006941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The construction of artificial cells from inanimate molecular building blocks is one of the grand challenges of our time. In addition to being used as simplified cell models to decipher the rules of life, artificial cells have the potential to be designed as micromachines deployed in a host of clinical and industrial applications. The attractions of engineering artificial cells from scratch, as opposed to re-engineering living biological cells, are varied. However, it is clear that artificial cells cannot currently match the power and behavioural sophistication of their biological counterparts. Given this, many in the synthetic biology community have started to ask: is it possible to interface biological and artificial cells together to create hybrid living/synthetic systems that leverage the advantages of both? This article will discuss the motivation behind this cellular bionics approach, in which the boundaries between living and non-living matter are blurred by bridging top-down and bottom-up synthetic biology. It details the state of play of this nascent field and introduces three generalised hybridisation modes that have emerged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemical EngineeringImperial College LondonExhibition RoadLondonUK
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3
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Wölfer C, Mangold M, Flassig RJ. Towards Design of Self-Organizing Biomimetic Systems. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 3:e1800320. [PMID: 32648706 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The ability of designing biosynthetic systems with well-defined functional biomodules from scratch is an ambitious and revolutionary goal to deliver innovative, engineered solutions to future challenges in biotechnology and process systems engineering. In this work, several key challenges including modularization, functional biomodule identification, and assembly are discussed. In addition, an in silico protocell modeling approach is presented as a foundation for a computational model-based toolkit for rational analysis and modular design of biomimetic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Wölfer
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstr. 1, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Michael Mangold
- University of Applied Sciences Bingen, Berlinstraße 109, 55411, Bingen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Robert J Flassig
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstr. 1, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany.,University of Applied Sciences Brandenburg, Magdeburger Str. 50, 14770, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
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Bhattacharya S, Phatake RS, Nabha Barnea S, Zerby N, Zhu JJ, Shikler R, Lemcoff NG, Jelinek R. Fluorescent Self-Healing Carbon Dot/Polymer Gels. ACS NANO 2019; 13:7396-7401. [PMID: 30615415 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b05112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Multicolor, fluorescent self-healing gels were constructed through reacting carbon dots produced from different aldehyde precursors with branched polyethylenimine. The self-healing gels were formed through Schiff base reaction between the aldehyde units displayed upon the carbon dots' surface and primary amine residues within the polyethylenimine network, generating imine bonds. The dynamic covalent imine bonds between the carbon dots and polymeric matrix endowed the gels with both excellent self-healing properties as well as high mechanical strength. Moreover, the viscoelastic properties of the gels could be intimately modulated by controlling the ratio between the carbon dots and polymer. The distinct fluorescence emissions of the gels, originating from the specific carbon dot constituents, were employed for fabrication of light emitters at different colors, particularly generating white light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagarika Bhattacharya
- Department of Chemistry , Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva 84105 , Israel
| | | | - Shiran Nabha Barnea
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering , Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva 84105 , Israel
| | - Nicholas Zerby
- Department of Chemistry , Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva 84105 , Israel
| | - Jun-Jie Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Rafi Shikler
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering , Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva 84105 , Israel
| | - Norberto Gabriel Lemcoff
- Department of Chemistry , Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva 84105 , Israel
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanotechnology , Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva 84105 , Israel
| | - Raz Jelinek
- Department of Chemistry , Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva 84105 , Israel
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanotechnology , Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva 84105 , Israel
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Cazimoglu I, Darlington APS, Grigonyte A, Hoskin CEG, Liu J, Oppenheimer R, Siller-Farfán JA, Grierson C, Papachristodoulou A. Developing a graduate training program in Synthetic Biology: SynBioCDT. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2019; 4:ysz006. [PMID: 32995533 PMCID: PMC7445758 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysz006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This article presents the experience of a team of students and academics in developing a post-graduate training program in the new field of Synthetic Biology. Our Centre for Doctoral Training in Synthetic Biology (SynBioCDT) is an initiative funded by the United Kingdom's Research Councils of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPSRC), and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences (BBSRC). SynBioCDT is a collaboration between the Universities of Oxford, Bristol and Warwick, and has been successfully running since 2014, training 78 students in this field. In this work, we discuss the organization of the taught, research and career development training. We also address the challenges faced when offering an interdisciplinary program. The article concludes with future directions to continue the development of the SynBioCDT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idil Cazimoglu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK.,EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Synthetic Biology, Doctoral Training Centre, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK
| | - Alexander P S Darlington
- EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Synthetic Biology, Doctoral Training Centre, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK.,School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Library Road, Coventry, UK
| | - Aurelija Grigonyte
- EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Synthetic Biology, Doctoral Training Centre, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK.,School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Campus, Coventry, UK
| | - Charlotte E G Hoskin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK.,EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Synthetic Biology, Doctoral Training Centre, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK
| | - Juntai Liu
- EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Synthetic Biology, Doctoral Training Centre, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK.,School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, UK
| | - Robert Oppenheimer
- EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Synthetic Biology, Doctoral Training Centre, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK.,Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, UK
| | - Jesús A Siller-Farfán
- EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Synthetic Biology, Doctoral Training Centre, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK.,Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK
| | - Claire Grierson
- EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Synthetic Biology, Doctoral Training Centre, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol Bristol Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Ave, Bristol, UK
| | - Antonis Papachristodoulou
- EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Synthetic Biology, Doctoral Training Centre, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK.,Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, UK
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