Premium
Towards an artificial cell
Author(s) -
Hammer Daniel A.,
Kamat Neha P.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.07.044
Subject(s) - protocell , artificial cell , synthetic biology , microfabrication , membrane , nanotechnology , biological cell , computer science , biochemical engineering , chemistry , computational biology , engineering , biology , materials science , biochemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , fabrication
We are on the verge of producing “synthetic cells,” or protocells, in which some, many or all of the tasks of a real biological cell are harnessed into a synthetic platform. Such advances are made possible through genetic engineering, microfabrication technologies, and the development of cellular membranes from new surfactants that extend beyond phospholipids in stability and chemical control, and can be used to introduce designer functionality into membranes and cells. We review some of the recent advances in the development of synthetic cells and suggest future exciting directions.