Designer mammalian living materials through genetic engineering

Area of Science:

• Cellular Engineering
• Synthetic Biology
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Mammalian cell programming is advancing with genome editing and synthetic biology.
• Engineered cells serve as building blocks for cell-dense materials.
• These materials have applications in living therapeutics, tissue engineering, and disease modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore advances in genetic engineering for controlling cell behavior.
• To discuss the development of next-generation cell-rich materials.
• To highlight the potential for user-defined living materials with tailored functionalities.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing inside-out engineering approaches for cellular programming.
• Leveraging genetic engineering strategies for precise control over cellular functions.
• Integrating synthetic biology toolboxes for designing cellular behavior.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated accurate programming of mammalian cell behavior from the inside-out.
• Enabled the assembly of cell-based materials with enhanced control over cellular arrangements.
• Showcased customizable therapeutic capabilities within engineered cell assemblies.

Conclusions:

• Inside-out engineering unlocks user-defined living materials with tailored cellular functionalities.
• Synergy between inside-out and outside-in approaches will drive sophisticated cell assemblies.
• Future developments promise augmented biofunctionalities in engineered cell-based materials.