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Artificial Spores: Cytocompatible Encapsulation of Individual Living Cells within Thin, Tough Artificial Shells
Author(s) -
Yang Sung Ho,
Hong Daewha,
Lee Juno,
Ko Eun Hyea,
Choi Insung S.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201202174
Subject(s) - artificial cell , nanotechnology , cell encapsulation , encapsulation (networking) , cell , materials science , cellular metabolism , cell metabolism , endospore , regenerative medicine , biophysics , spore , chemistry , biology , computer science , metabolism , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , computer network , membrane
Abstract Cells are encapsulated individually within thin and tough shells in a cytocompatible way, by mimicking the structure of bacterial endospores that survive under hostile conditions. The 3D ‘cell‐in‐shell’ structures—coined as ‘artificial spores'—enable modulation and control over cellular metabolism, such as control of cell division, resistance to external stresses, and surface‐functionalizability, providing a useful platform for applications, including cell‐based sensors, cell therapy, regenerative medicine, as well as for fundamental studies on cellular metabolism at the single‐cell level and cell‐to‐cell communications. This Concept focuses on chemical approaches to single‐cell encapsulation with artificial shells for creating artificial spores, including cross‐linked layer‐by‐layer assembly, bioinspired mineralization, and mussel‐inspired polymerization. The current status and future prospects of this emerging field are also discussed.