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Updated: Jun 23, 2025

Engineering Cell-permeable Protein
Published on: December 28, 2009
Self-Powered Engineering of Cell Membrane Receptors to On-Demand Regulate Cellular Behaviors
Hongyan Geng1, Shuangcheng Zhi1, Xuemin Zhou2,3
1College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Shandong Provincial Universities for Functional Molecules and Materials, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China.
A novel self-powered biosensor autonomously releases Zn2+ to reprogram cell receptors, enabling precise control over cellular behaviors like proliferation and migration for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
- Biosensors
Background:
- Controlling cellular behavior via non-genetic methods is challenging.
- Existing methods lack autonomous and precise control over cellular processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a self-powered biosensor for on-demand cellular behavior regulation.
- To engineer a system for precise Zn2+ release and DNAzyme activation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a membraneless enzyme biofuel cell-based self-powered biosensor (EBFC-SPB).
- Utilizing a Fe3+-cross-linked alginate hydrogel loaded with Zn2+ for controlled release.
- Employing Zn2+-responsive DNAzyme nanodevices for receptor modulation.
Main Results:
- The EBFC-SPB autonomously released Zn2+ upon encountering glucose/O2.
- Released Zn2+ activated DNAzymes, leading to receptor dimerization.
- Cell proliferation and migration were successfully promoted or inhibited.
Conclusions:
- The EBFC-SPB platform offers a "sensing-actuating-treating" tool for chemical regulation of cellular behaviors.
- This technology holds significant promise for precision biomedicine and therapeutic interventions.
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