Synthetic Cells for Functional Food Platforms

Project Information

NutriCells

Grant agreement ID: 101113408

DOI

10.3030/101113408

Project closed

EC signature date 6 March 2023

Start date 1 July 2023

End date 31 December 2024

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 150 000,00

Coordinated by

TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Israel

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NutriCells (Synthetic Cells for Functional Food Platforms)

Reporting period: 2023-07-01 to 2024-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The global food crisis, coupled with economic challenges, threatens the nutritional security of many, especially the elderly. As people age, their bodies struggle to absorb essential nutrients, leading to immune system weakening and cognitive decline.
Our project aims to develop synthetic cells (SCs), tiny lipid-based vesicles packed with essential fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. These SCs will act as smart nutritional supplements, designed to integrate seamlessly into everyday foods. Utilizing AI-powered optimization, we will create food products enriched with SCs, making it easier for aging individuals to get the nutrients they need to maintain brain function and overall health.
This project builds on our ERC-STG-680242 research, where we initiated the development of SCs for medical applications. Now, we are taking it a step further, tailoring SC technology to enhance everyday nutrition. Our approach includes microfluidics and robotic liquid handling systems to fine-tune SC formulations for maximum efficiency and bioavailability.

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

Our work on the NutriCells project focused on creating SCs in a scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable way. One of the most significant achievements was the development of an automated method for large-scale SC production. Traditionally, SC fabrication has been a labor-intensive process, limiting its scalability. By integrating a robotic liquid handling system and an automated emulsification method, we were able to increase SC batch sizes by 30-fold while maintaining consistent size, structure, and functionality. Additionally, we implemented an AI-driven imaging system to improve SC characterization, allowing for high-throughput analysis with greater accuracy and efficiency. These advancements, recently published in Advanced Biology (Sharf-Pauker, N., et al. Advanced Biology. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1002/ adbi.202400671) provide a standardized, scalable workflow that reduces variability and improves reproducibility, making SCs more viable for commercial applications.
On the biochemical level, we optimized cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) within SCs to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. By refining energy source compositions, we achieved a twofold increase in protein production while significantly lowering the overall cost of reactions. This breakthrough enables more cost-effective production of SC-based functional components for various applications. Furthermore, we demonstrated longer-lasting protein synthesis reactions, allowing SCs to function for extended periods without the need for external supplementation. To validate the functionality of these improvements, we successfully integrated SCs into real-world applications, including in vivo studies. Large-scale SCs were administered to full-scale biological models, where real-time monitoring confirmed efficient protein production and extended functionality. The high consistency of SC batches also led to reduced variability in experimental outcomes, a crucial factor for future clinical and industrial adoption.

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)

This project takes SCs technology to the next level, making it more scalable, efficient, and commercially viable than ever before. The ability to produce SCs in large batches while keeping their structure and functionality intact is critical for real life implementation. These advancements open new possibilities for functional foods, biopharmaceuticals, and therapeutic applications, where SCs can deliver nutrients or active proteins in a controlled and effective way.
At its core, this project has laid the foundation for a shift in synthetic biology, turning SCs from a promising concept into practical, scalable, and market-ready technology. With proper support, through research, industry backing, and regulatory frameworks, SCs have the potential to revolutionize personalized nutrition, drug delivery, and beyond.

Scale up SCs production

Publication was selected as issue cover (Sharf-Pauker, N., et al. Advanced Biology. 2025.)

AI based optimization of SCs production

Synthetic Cell System