Biological cells, reminiscent of synthetic cells, created by scientists, can penetrate inside the present tumor cells and produce a substance poisoning them from within. This approach combines the methods of synthetic biology for the production of antitumor proteins and targeted drug delivery, which allows artificial cells to reach the affected tissue. The article with the results was published in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials.

Synthetic cells are artificial systems, resembling, and sometimes surpassing, real cells in some ways.

In the new work, scientists from the Israeli Technion Institute were able to conclude a molecular factory for the production of the desired protein inside the lipid shell, which resembles cell membranes. The created systems are able to determine if there is a biological tissue nearby, to activate and produce a protein based on the synthetic DNA stored inside. And energy and necessary substances such particles are obtained from the environment, for example, a cancer cell.

The authors tested the development in cell culture, as well as in the body of mice. The particles coped successfully with the tumor. The process was monitored in real time by fluorescence of synthetic cells.

nanonewsnet.ru