We report the construction of artificial cells that chemically communicate with mammalian cells under physiological conditions. The artificial cells respond to the presence of a small molecule in the environment by synthesizing and releasing a potent protein signal, brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Genetically controlled artificial cells communicate with engineered human embryonic kidney cells and murine neural stem cells. The data suggest that artificial cells are a versatile chassis for the in situ synthesis and on-demand release of chemical signals that elicit desired phenotypic changes of eukaryotic cells, including neuronal differentiation. In the future, artificial cells could be engineered to go beyond the capabilities of typical smart drug delivery vehicles by synthesizing and delivering specific therapeutic molecules tailored to distinct physiological conditions.

Artificial cells drive neural differentiation / Toparlak, O. D.; Zasso, J.; Bridi, S.; Dalla, Serra; Macchi, P.; Conti, L.; Baudet, M; Mansy, S. S.. - In: SCIENCE ADVANCES. - ISSN 2375-2548. - ELETTRONICO. - 6:38(2020), pp. eabb492001-eabb492012. [10.1126/sciadv.abb4920]

Artificial cells drive neural differentiation

Toparlak O. D.;Zasso J.;Bridi S.;Dalla Serra;Macchi P.;Conti L.;Baudet M;Mansy S. S.
2020-01-01

Abstract

We report the construction of artificial cells that chemically communicate with mammalian cells under physiological conditions. The artificial cells respond to the presence of a small molecule in the environment by synthesizing and releasing a potent protein signal, brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Genetically controlled artificial cells communicate with engineered human embryonic kidney cells and murine neural stem cells. The data suggest that artificial cells are a versatile chassis for the in situ synthesis and on-demand release of chemical signals that elicit desired phenotypic changes of eukaryotic cells, including neuronal differentiation. In the future, artificial cells could be engineered to go beyond the capabilities of typical smart drug delivery vehicles by synthesizing and delivering specific therapeutic molecules tailored to distinct physiological conditions.
2020
38
Toparlak, O. D.; Zasso, J.; Bridi, S.; Dalla, Serra; Macchi, P.; Conti, L.; Baudet, M; Mansy, S. S.
Artificial cells drive neural differentiation / Toparlak, O. D.; Zasso, J.; Bridi, S.; Dalla, Serra; Macchi, P.; Conti, L.; Baudet, M; Mansy, S. S.. - In: SCIENCE ADVANCES. - ISSN 2375-2548. - ELETTRONICO. - 6:38(2020), pp. eabb492001-eabb492012. [10.1126/sciadv.abb4920]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11572/281312
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