Nongenetic Bioconjugation Strategies for Modifying Cell Membranes and Membrane Proteins: A Review

The cell membrane possesses an extensive library of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids that control a significant portion of inter- and intracellular functions, including signaling, proliferation, migration, and adhesion, among others. Augmenting the cell surface composition would open possibilities for advances in therapy, tissue engineering, and probing fundamental cell processes. While genetic engineering has proven effective for many in vitro applications, these techniques result in irreversible changes to cells and are difficult to apply in vivo. Another approach is to instead attach exogenous functional groups to the cell membrane without changing the genetic nature of the cell. This review focuses on more recent approaches of nongenetic methods of cell surface modification through metabolic pathways, anchorage by hydrophobic interactions, and chemical conjugation. Benefits and drawbacks of each approach are considered, followed by a discussion of potential applications for nongenetic cell surface modification and an outlook on the future of the field.