Descripción del proyecto
Desarrollar las células artificiales
Para comprender la complejidad de las células y la dinámica de los procesos celulares, los investigadores han diseñado células artificiales que imitan funciones biológicas como el metabolismo y el crecimiento. Las células artificiales representan una fascinante confluencia de biología, química e ingeniería, pero dado que las células naturales existen en sistemas multicelulares como los tejidos, es necesario orientar la investigación hacia poblaciones interdependientes. Financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Investigación, el equipo del proyecto PRO-ARTIS pretende desarrollar poblaciones celulares artificiales capaces de interactuar con sus homólogas mediante una plataforma nueva de intercambio dinámico de proteínas. Además de una visión fundamental de los procesos multicelulares, este estudio tiene el potencial de mejorar la biología sintética y la biomedicina.
Objetivo
Artificial cells are soft matter, micron-sized compartments that display features which are normally associated with living cells only. These include aspects such as metabolism, growth and communication. Artificial cell research is motivated by the fact that the creation of synthetic compartments with lifelike features leads to a better understanding of the complexity of living cells and to the ability to design systems with interactive behavior. Research has until now been mostly focused on the development of individual artificial cells. However, in biology living cells don’t act fully independently; their behavior is much affected by the proximity of other cells. Cells therefore display interdependence for both single cell populations of bacteria and for more strongly integrated multicellular systems such as tissues.
With PRO-ARTIS I aim to explore a new direction in artificial cell research, by creating artificial cell populations with interdependent and autonomous function. To achieve this goal I will optimally benefit from our recently developed artificial cell platform that allows the dynamic uptake and release of proteins. This is a powerful method for the exchange of active components that can be employed in process regulation. This investigation is of great interest as it allows me to take the functional integration of different artificial cells to an advanced level. From a fundamental point of view, this will shed more light on how natural multicellular processes are governed. It furthermore provides exciting opportunities to develop concepts that can be translated to a next generation of dynamic soft matter systems. I furthermore aim to functionally integrate artificial and living cells. This ambitious objective addresses an underexplored area in synthetic biology with much potential in biomedicine. If the challenging task of integration succeeds, I have developed a technology that directs and modulates biological processes with unprecedented precision.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsInstitución de acogida
5612 AE Eindhoven
Países Bajos