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Surface functionalization of living cells with multilayer patches
Albert J Swiston1, Connie Cheng, Soong Ho Um
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Nano Letters
|April 16, 2009
Summary
Functional polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) patches can be attached to living lymphocytes, enabling magnetic manipulation and preserving cell function. This breakthrough offers new possibilities for cell-based therapies and bioimaging applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Cell Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Living cells require methods for functionalization without compromising native functions.
- Controlling and tracking cells is crucial for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate functional polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) patches for cell surface modification.
- To assess the viability and functionality of patch-modified lymphocytes.
- To enable spatial manipulation of cells using magnetic fields.
Main Methods:
- Attachment of functional PEM patches to individual lymphocytes.
- Incorporation of magnetic nanoparticles into PEM patches.
- Assessment of cell viability for 48 hours post-attachment.
- Evaluation of T-cell migration in preliminary studies.
Main Results:
- Successful attachment of functional PEM patches to a fraction of lymphocyte surface area.
- Surface-modified cells remained viable for at least 48 hours.
- Magnetic nanoparticle-carrying patches allowed for spatial cell manipulation via magnetic fields.
- Cellular functions, including T-cell migration, were largely preserved.
Conclusions:
- Functional PEM patches offer a viable method for modifying living cells.
- This technique allows for targeted cell manipulation and functionalization.
- The approach holds significant potential for advanced cell-based therapeutics and research tools.
