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Advances on Non-Genetic Cell Membrane Engineering for Biomedical Applications
Lisha Liu1, Hongliang He1, Jianping Liu2
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, 428 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Polymers
|December 11, 2019
Summary
Non-genetic engineering strategies offer a safer, effective way to enhance cell-based therapeutics. This review details methods and advances in modifying cell surfaces for improved therapeutic applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Background:
- Cell-based therapeutics hold significant promise for treating various medical conditions.
- Enhancing cell surface properties is crucial for improving therapeutic efficacy.
- Genetic engineering methods, while effective, present challenges such as complexity and potential toxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review non-genetic cell surface engineering strategies for cell-based therapeutics.
- To highlight recent advancements in applying these strategies to diverse cell types and therapeutic modalities.
- To discuss challenges and future perspectives in the field of non-genetic cell engineering.
Main Methods:
- Summarize key non-genetic methodologies: covalent chemical conjugation (direct, enzymatic, metabolic) and noncovalent physical bioconjugation (biotinylation, electrostatic interaction, membrane fusion, hydrophobic insertion).
- Review applications in whole-cell therapeutics, cell membrane-derived therapeutics, and extracellular vesicles.
- Focus on popular cell types: erythrocytes, platelets, cancer cells, leukocytes, stem cells, and bacteria.
Main Results:
- Non-genetic strategies provide a powerful, compatible alternative to genetic engineering for cell surface modification.
- Diverse non-genetic methods enable the functionalization of various cell-based therapeutic platforms.
- Significant progress has been made in engineering cell surfaces for enhanced therapeutic functions across multiple cell types.
Conclusions:
- Non-genetic cell surface engineering is a rapidly developing field with vast potential for advancing cell-based therapeutics.
- Continued research into these methods promises to overcome limitations and expand therapeutic applications.
- The field faces challenges but offers exciting future trends and opportunities for innovation.
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