Synthetic biology devices for in vitro and in vivo diagnostics

Abstract

There is a growing need to enhance our capabilities in medical and environmental diagnostics. Synthetic biologists have begun to focus their biomolecular engineering approaches toward this goal, offering promising results that could lead to the development of new classes of inexpensive, rapidly deployable diagnostics. Many conventional diagnostics rely on antibody-based platforms that, although exquisitely sensitive, are slow and costly to generate and cannot readily confront rapidly emerging pathogens or be applied to orphan diseases. Synthetic biology, with its rational and short design-to-production cycles, has the potential to overcome many of these limitations. Synthetic biology devices, such as engineered gene circuits, bring new capabilities to molecular diagnostics, expanding the molecular detection palette, creating dynamic sensors, and untethering reactions from laboratory equipment. The field is also beginning to move toward in vivo diagnostics, which could provide near real-time surveillance of multiple pathological conditions. Here, we describe current efforts in synthetic biology, focusing on the translation of promising technologies into pragmatic diagnostic tools and platforms.synthetic biology | diagnostics | biosensing | synthetic gene networks | nanobiotechnology

Engineering Customized Cell Sensing and Response Behaviors Using Synthetic Notch Receptors

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Detection and Control of Indoor Airborne Pathogenic Bacteria by Biosensors Based on Quorum Sensing Chemical Language: Bio-Tools, Connectivity Apps and Intelligent Buildings

“…For example, with this tool, it is possible to develop genetic circuits and new bioelectronic devices for the detection of pathogens [40,53]. As previously discussed, biosensors (cell-based or cell-independent sensors) are a suitable tool for the detection of molecules related to environmental quality problems or health risks.…”

Molecular Imaging in Synthetic Biology, and Synthetic Biology in Molecular Imaging

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