Autonomous Computing Artificial Cells

Project Information

AMIGA

Grant agreement ID: 101000199

DOI

10.3030/101000199

EC signature date 17 December 2020

Start date 1 February 2022

End date 31 July 2027

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 1 999 497,00

EU contribution

€ 1 999 497,00

Coordinated by

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - AMIGA (Autonomous Computing Artificial Cells)

Reporting period: 2025-02-01 to 2026-07-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

What is the problem being addressed?
In today’s world, conventional computers are powerful but limited to electronic systems. They struggle to operate in molecular environments, such as inside our bodies, where traditional silicon-based technologies cannot function. The challenge is to create systems that can perform computations, process information, and store data within these environments—at a molecular scale—opening doors to groundbreaking applications in diagnostics, data storage, and medicine.

Why is this important for society?
Solving this problem has the potential to revolutionize fields like healthcare and technology. Molecular computing could lead to advanced diagnostic tools that detect diseases faster and with greater precision, innovative data storage solutions capable of preserving vast amounts of digital information in tiny DNA molecules, and smart materials that adapt to their environment. These breakthroughs would improve our quality of life, enhance sustainability, and create new opportunities in medicine and technology.

What are the overall objectives?
The AMIGA project aims to design and develop autonomous artificial cells, or protocells, capable of computing, communicating, and storing data at the molecular level. The research will integrate DNA-based chemical reaction networks (CRNs) into these protocells, enabling them to perform advanced tasks like logic operations, pattern recognition, and molecular communication. By establishing this platform, AMIGA seeks to pioneer a new era of molecular information technology, bridging the gap between biology and computing for transformative applications in diagnostics, synthetic biology, and beyond.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

1. Overview of Progress

The AMIGA project is making significant strides toward its goal of developing autonomous protocells capable of molecular computing, communication, and data storage. At this halfway point, the project has successfully addressed key challenges and delivered intermediate outcomes that demonstrate progress beyond the state-of-the-art.

1) A robust DNA-based communication system between protocells has been established, enabling distributed molecular computation. These systems are capable of exchanging and processing information through molecular signals, emulating biological neural networks.
2) Experimental validation has shown enhanced computational performance compared to homogeneous systems, including faster signal processing and reduced leakage reactions.
3) Initial experiments integrating CRNs with molecular memory elements have validated the potential for recording computational outcomes onto DNA templates.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The AMIGA project pushes the boundaries of current science by integrating principles of molecular computing, synthetic biology, and nanotechnology to develop autonomous protocells—artificial cells that can compute, communicate, and store data at the molecular level. Unlike traditional DNA-based chemical reaction networks (CRNs) that operate in homogeneous solutions, AMIGA introduces spatially localized systems within semi-permeable protocells, significantly enhancing scalability, programmability, and efficiency.

Key innovations include:
1. Protocell Communication Networks: AMIGA has developed a platform for DNA-based molecular messaging between protocells, enabling distributed computation and collaborative problem-solving akin to biological neural networks.
2. Advanced Computational Functions: The project pioneers large-scale molecular circuits capable of asynchronous logic, integral feedback control, and pattern recognition, far surpassing the capabilities of existing systems.
3. Molecular Memory Systems: Leveraging CRISPR-based DNA editing, AMIGA enables protocells to “write” and store molecular data permanently, offering unprecedented data storage and retrieval methods.
4. Iterative Design-Build-Test-Learn Cycle: By combining in-silico modeling with experimental validation, AMIGA establishes a tailored CRN-to-DNA compiler, setting the stage for large-scale, programmable DNA computing.

This progress positions AMIGA at the forefront of molecular information technologies, bridging the gap between living and non-living systems. The platform has the potential to transform fields such as diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and sustainable data storage, opening entirely new horizons in science and technology.