Sociable Synthetic Cells
Artificial cells have been taught to communicate with mammalian cells
Anna Muravyeva, N+1
Biologists have created artificial cells that are able to communicate chemically with mammalian cells, according to a study published in the journal Science Advances (Toparlak et al., Artificial cells drive neural differentiation).
Synthetic cells produced brain neurotropic factor and promoted differentiation of mouse neural stem cells into neurons. This factor also interacted with modified human embryonic kidney cells. Researchers have shown that artificial cells are stable under physiological conditions.
Targeted delivery of substances is necessary for effective treatment of many diseases. Now doctors use nanoparticles, balls from the cell membrane and even modified viruses for this. However, such systems are most often not capable of self-regulation and communication with the cells of the body. Artificial cells – membrane beads with DNA, pores and a synthetic apparatus like a real cell - can become a new way of delivering drugs.
Biologists from the University of Trento, led by O. Duhan Toparlak, studied the interaction of artificial cells with human and mouse cells to test their ability for chemical communication. The artificial cells contained the genes BDNF (brain neurotrophic factor) and PFO (pore protein). The PFO was embedded in the membrane of the artificial cell and passed BDNF out. Mouse neural stem cells were incubated with synthetic ones (they were replaced with fresh ones every 24 hours) for 19 days. The process of stem cell development was evaluated using a neuronal marker. It turned out that this marker accumulates in cells almost as well as when treated with "pure" synthesized BDNF, and several times faster than when incubated with artificial cells that did not secrete BDNF (p=0.0012).
A diagram of an artificial cell and its interaction with mouse neural stem cells. The PFO protein forms pores through which the BNDF factor exits, which provokes the development of stem cells into neurons.
Scientists decided to test whether artificial cells are capable of communicating with human ones. They modified human embryonic kidney cells in such a way that, when interacting with BDNF, they had to activate the synthesis of fluorescent green protein. It turned out that during incubation with cells that released BDNF, the glow was stronger (p=0.0144) than with those that did not release this factor.
Artificial cells were also incubated under physiological conditions: 30-37 degrees Celsius, with appropriate concentrations of potassium and sodium and in the presence of human cells. Only 15 percent of the artificial cells collapsed after a week of incubation.
So biologists have shown that artificial cells are capable of chemical communication with mammalian cells and are stable under physiological conditions. Scientists believe that artificial cells can become a new means of delivering chemicals for therapy.
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