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Engineering protocells: prospects for self-assembly and nanoscale production-lines
David M Miller1,2, Jacqueline M Gulbis3,4
1The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia. dmiller@wehi.edu.au.
Life (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 28, 2015
Summary
Scientists are developing artificial protocells from biological components for applications in medicine, energy, and environmental cleanup. Current technologies are nearing the capability to build prototype protocells for real-world use.
Area of Science:
- Synthetic biology
- Biotechnology
- Protocell research
Background:
- Advances in nucleic acid and protein synthesis enable the creation of artificial organisms.
- Current artificial cell technology primarily involves modifying existing unicellular organisms.
- Synthetic protocells offer a new paradigm beyond metabolic engineering of living cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review emerging possibilities for synthetic protocell "machines" built from individual biological components.
- To discuss recent technological advances applicable to synthetic protocell design and construction.
- To explore the potential for self-assembling machines and microfluidic production of protocells.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent technological advancements in biological component synthesis and assembly.
- Discussion of strategies for incorporating cellular transport and assembly machinery.
- Exploration of microfluidic technologies for miniature production lines.
Main Results:
- Emerging technologies facilitate the design and fabrication of artificial protocells.
- Self-assembly mechanisms and microfluidic production are key areas of development.
- Protocells are moving from theoretical concepts towards practical prototypes.
Conclusions:
- Synthetic protocell technology is rapidly advancing, moving beyond traditional cell engineering.
- The integration of biological components allows for the creation of functional protocell machines.
- Current capabilities are approaching the threshold for developing prototype protocells with diverse applications.
