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Applications of synthetic polymers directed toward living cells

Nature Synthesis (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Cells execute remarkable functions using biopolymers synthesized from natural building blocks. Engineering cells to leverage the vast array of synthesizable abiotic polymers could provide enhanced or entirely new cellular functions. Here we discuss the applications of in situ-synthesized abiotic polymers in three distinct domains: intracellular polymerization, cell-surface polymerization and extracellular polymerization. These advances have led to novel applications in various areas, such as cancer therapy, cell imaging, cellular activity manipulation, cell protection and electrode assembly. Examples of these synthetic approaches can be applied across all domains of life, ranging from microbes and cultured mammalian cells to plants and animals. Finally, we discuss challenges and future opportunities in this emerging field, which could enable new synthetic approaches to influence biological processes and functions.

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Fig. 1: Conceptual overview of abiotic polymer synthesis on living cells.
Fig. 2: Intracellular polymerization.
Fig. 3: Cell surface engineering.
Fig. 4: Extracellular polymerization.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation Future Manufacturing Program grant (award no. 2037164) and the Keck Foundation. Z.B. is a CZ Biohub-San Francisco Investigator and an Arc Institute Innovation Investigator. A.Z. acknowledges support from the American Heart Association (AHA; award no. 23POST1018301).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Anqi Zhang, Spencer Zhao, Jonathan Tyson & Zhenan Bao

  2. Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Anqi Zhang, Jonathan Tyson & Karl Deisseroth

  3. Department of Chemistry and the Sarafan Chemistry, Engineering & Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Jonathan Tyson

  4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Karl Deisseroth

  5. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Karl Deisseroth

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  1. Anqi Zhang
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A.Z., K.D. and Z.B. wrote the manuscript. S.Z. and J.T. contributed to the discussions and revisions.

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Correspondence to Karl Deisseroth or Zhenan Bao.

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Nature Synthesis thanks Bozhi Tian and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work. Primary Handling Editor: Alison Stoddart, in collaboration with the Nature Synthesis team.

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Zhang, A., Zhao, S., Tyson, J. et al. Applications of synthetic polymers directed toward living cells. Nat. Synth (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44160-024-00560-2

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