Genetically targeted chemical assembly of functional materials in living cells, tissues, and animals.

ABSTRACT: The structural and functional complexity of multicellular biological systems, such as the brain, are beyond the reach of human design or assembly capabilities. Cells in living organisms may be recruited to construct synthetic materials or structures if treated as anatomically defined compartments for specific chemistry, harnessing biology for the assembly of complex functional structures. By integrating engineered-enzyme targeting and polymer chemistry, we genetically instructed specific living neurons to guide chemical synthesis of electrically functional (conductive or insulating) polymers at the plasma membrane. Electrophysiological and behavioral analyses confirmed that rationally designed, genetically targeted assembly of functional polymers not only preserved neuronal viability but a

SUBMITTER: Liu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7527276 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature