Engineering mammalian living materials towards clinically relevant therapeutics

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Synthetic Biology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Engineered living materials (ELMs) represent a novel class of biotherapeutics.
• These cell-rich platforms offer enhanced functionalities beyond conventional biomaterials.
• ELMs provide encodable bioactivities, extended lifetimes, and environmental adaptability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss emerging cell bioengineering tools for creating multiscale living materials.
• To outline recent advances in engineering mammalian living materials for biomedical applications.
• To provide a critical perspective on challenges hindering clinical translation.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing cell bioengineering tools to assemble living cells into cooperative building blocks.
• Imparting pristine cellular units with therapeutically relevant biofunctionalities.
• Reviewing recent advancements in mammalian living material engineering.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated potential of engineered living materials for diverse medical applications.
• Highlighted the ability of cellular units to drive multiscale material assembly.
• Identified key roadblocks for clinical translation of these advanced biotherapeutics.

Conclusions:

• Engineered living materials offer a paradigm shift in biotherapeutics and regenerative medicine.
• Leveraging ELMs as autologous tissue-building entities or self-regulated biotherapeutics can enhance personalized medicine.
• Future development holds promise for improving precision medicine strategies.