Project description
Chemical communication among dynamically clustered synthetic cells
Living cells perform a multitude of complex functions whose efficiency is supported by compartmentalisation. Engineered single-compartment synthetic cells have demonstrated their utility in tackling many societal challenges. However, integration of multiple functional modules in a single synthetic cell, something essential to the performance of complex tasks, has remained challenging. Furthermore, controlling chemical communication among simpler synthetic cells so they can work as a group has also been challenging. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SynCellCluster project aims to develop a new platform to study chemical signalling among dynamically and reversibly clustered synthetic cells. The clustering will leverage light or pH activation, microfluidics and optical tweezers.
Objective
The current global human crisis in climate, health and energy calls for the development of new biotechnological innovations. The engineering of living cells has demonstrated its efficiency to produce drugs or degrade pollutants, but living cells also come with major limitations. Synthetic cells are human-made robust micro-compartments that reproduce key features of living cells from non-living matter, and are now being engineered to tackle key societal challenges of the European Union, including environmental clean-up, energy production or drug delivery. The integration of multiple functional modules in a single synthetic cell, required to perform complex tasks, remains yet a grand challenge. A promising alternative to increase the functionality of synthetic cells is to distribute multiple functions into specialized compartments able to communicate with each other through chemical signaling to perform tasks collectively. However, chemical communication between synthetic cells remains poorly controllable and programmable. The aim of this proposal is to develop a new platform to quantitatively study chemical signalling between synthetic cells based on their dynamic clustering. For this purpose, we will engineer switchable sticky coacervate droplets to selective interact with enzymatically active vesicles and promote their reversible clustering in response to light or pH. The bottom-up assembly of vesicles will be achieved by microfluidics due to modularity and reliability to produce structurally well-defined architectures. Optical tweezers will be used to study the coacervate-mediated interactions between vesicles and quantify their chemical signalling via confocal fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy. The skills and experience of the candidate in stimuli-responsive biomaterials, polymer coatings and adhesion will be applied to the interdisciplinary and cutting-edge fields of synthetic cells in which the hosting groups have made progress in the recent past.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences classical mechanics fluid mechanics microfluidics
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
75794 Paris
France
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