From Single-Compartment Artificial Cells to Tissue-Like Materials

Abstract

Designing and assembling artificial cells (ACs) is a core direction in bottom-up synthetic biology. Here, the advancements in the past 3 years in engineering ACs with focus on compartmentalization and surface modifications with the aim for their integration in semi-synthetic tissue are outlined. Compartmentalization in vesicles, coacervates and hydrogels are discussed for encapsulated catalysis or cytoskeleton formation including the use of components of mammalian cells to increase the ACs’ complexity. Following on, the surface modification of the ACs is reviewed due to its relevance when integration of ACs with mammalian cells into semi-synthetic tissue is the goal. Finally, the interaction of ACs and mammalian cells for cellular communication or the fabrication of semi-synthetic tissue toward therapeutic opportunities is outlined, before a short perspective is provided.