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Using Synthetic Biology to Engineer Living Cells That Interface with Programmable Materials
Published on: March 9, 2017
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In-vivo programmable acoustic manipulation of genetically engineered bacteria
Ye Yang1,2, Yaozhang Yang1,3, Dingyuan Liu1
1Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 518055, Shenzhen, China.
Nature Communications
|June 6, 2023
Summary
Genetically engineered bacteria with gas vesicles are acoustically sensitive, enabling precise in vivo cell manipulation using ultrasound. This breakthrough advances cell-based biomedical applications by allowing targeted bacterial aggregation and movement.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Acoustic Manipulation
- Synthetic Biology
Background:
- Acoustic tweezers offer advantages for in vivo cell manipulation, including high tissue penetrability.
- Normal cells are challenging to manipulate acoustically due to their size and similar acoustic impedance.
- Overcoming these limitations is crucial for advancing cell-based therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer bacteria with enhanced acoustic sensitivity for improved manipulation.
- To demonstrate the in vitro and in vivo control of these engineered bacteria using acoustic tweezers.
- To explore the potential of this technology for targeted delivery and aggregation in tumors.
Main Methods:
- Heterologous gene cluster expression to produce sub-micron gas vesicles in bacterial cytoplasm.
- Utilizing phased-array-based acoustic tweezers for electronically steered acoustic beam manipulation.
- In vitro and in vivo experiments in live mice vasculature and tumor models.
Main Results:
- Gas vesicle production significantly increased the acoustic sensitivity of engineered bacteria.
- Engineered bacteria were successfully trapped into clusters and manipulated in vitro and in vivo.
- Demonstrated counter flow and on-demand flow of bacteria in mouse vasculature.
- Improved aggregation efficiency of engineered bacteria within tumors.
Conclusions:
- Genetically engineered bacteria with gas vesicles provide a viable platform for acoustic manipulation.
- This technology enables precise in vivo control and targeted delivery of cells.
- The findings pave the way for novel cell-based biomedical applications and therapies.
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