SupraCells: Living Mammalian Cells Protected within Functional Modular Nanoparticle‐Based Exoskeletons

Abstract

Creating a synthetic exoskeleton from abiotic materials to protect delicate mammalian cells and impart them with new functionalities could revolutionize fields like cell-based sensing and create diverse new cellular phenotypes. Herein, we introduce the concept of 'SupraCells', which are living mammalian cells encapsulated and protected within functional modular nanoparticle-based exoskeletons. Exoskeletons are generated within seconds through immediate interparticle and cell/particle complexation that abolishes the macropinocytotic and endocytotic nanoparticle internalization pathways that occur without complexation. SupraCell formation was shown to be generalizable to wide classes of nanoparticles and various types of cells. It induces a spore-like state, wherein cells do not replicate or spread on surfaces but are endowed with extremophile properties, e.g., resistance to osmotic stress, reactive oxygen species, pH, and UV exposure, along with abiotic properties like magnetism, conductivity, and multi-fluorescence. Upon de-complexation cells return to their normal replicative states. SupraCells represent a new class of living hybrid materials with a broad range of functionalities. Enhancing or augmenting the performance of mammalian cells could result in new classes of smart responsive living materials. Mammalian cells exhibit complex functionalities like sensing, signal transduction, and protein expression, but they remain fragile and highly susceptible to intracellular and extracellular stressors. [1] So far, to impart delicate mammalian cells with greater cellular durability, such as enhanced resistance against UV, freezing, and enzymatic attack, etc., a series of coating strategies/nanotechniques have been developed to

Organism–Materials Integration: A Promising Strategy for Biomedical Applications

“…Except for MOFs, other nanoparticles such as silica and Fe 3 O 4 can similarly self‐assemble to integrate with cells ( Figure 2 ). [ 27 ]…”

Sol–Gel‐Based Advanced Porous Silica Materials for Biomedical Applications

“…Also some emerging brand new applications of MSNs have been proposed in biomedical fields. For instance, MSNs can be applied as functional modules to construct exoskeletons of living mammalian cells, obtaining “SupraCells” with a broad range of functionalities, such as extremophile properties (e.g., resistance to osmotic stress, reactive oxygen species, pH, and UV exposure), along with abiotic properties like magnetism, conductivity, and multifluorescence [ 120 ] (Figure 7B). We believe that more and more advances will be demonstrated in the near future and bring MSNs on a pathway to clinical trials and eventual use in the clinic.…”

Single‐Cell Nanoencapsulation: From Passive to Active Shells

“…Reproduced with permission. [ 21 ] Copyright 2019, Wiley‐VCH. d) Left: schematic representation of photoresponsive hydrogel formation for selective cell encapsulation and right: viability of Jurkat cells before and after hydrogelation in RPMI 1640 media, 5% SDS solution, and DI water.…”

“…Very recently, a complexly designed shell‐forming system has been reported that synergistically combined the chemical characteristics of MOF and TA (Figure 3c). [ 21 ] An artificial shell of MOF nanocrystals (MOF‐NCs), such as ZIF‐8, MIL‐100, MET‐3‐Fe, or UiO‐66‐NH 2 , was successfully formed on a living HeLa cell. Similarly to the working mechanism for Fe(III)‐TA‐MOC, the galloyl group of TA could strongly bind with the metal ion of nanocrystals, [ 22 ] and the TA linking of MOF‐NCs prevented the internalization of the nanocrystals into the cells.…”