abstract
Breakthroughs in precision cell surface engineering tools are supporting the rapid development of programmable living assemblies with valuable features for tackling complex biological problems. Herein, the authors overview the most recent technological advances in chemically- and biologically-driven toolboxes for engineering mammalian cell surfaces and triggering their assembly into living architectures. A particular focus is given to surface engineering technologies for enabling biomimetic cell-cell social interactions and multicellular cell-sorting events. Further advancements in cell surface modification technologies may expand the currently available bioengineering toolset and unlock a new generation of personalized cell therapeutics with clinically relevant biofunctionalities. The combination of state-of-the-art cell surface modifications with advanced biofabrication technologies is envisioned to contribute toward generating living materials with increasing tissue/organ-mimetic bioactivities and therapeutic potential. Cell surface engineering can be explored for generating multicellular living assemblies with user-defined designs and biological programmability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of currently available toolboxes, as well as presents a critical discussion on the most recent advances and exploitable paths to open potential applications of surface functionalized cells in biotechnology and healthcare.image
keywords
NUCLEIC-ACID APTAMERS; ACYL SIDE-CHAIN; MAMMALIAN-CELLS; SIALIC ACIDS; GENE-THERAPY; IN-VITRO; TISSUE; POLYMERS; PROTEINS; GLYCANS
subject category
Chemistry; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Materials Science
authors
Almeida-Pinto, J; Lagarto, MR; Lavrador, P; Mano, JF; Gaspar, VM
our authors
Projects
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020)
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDP/50011/2020)
Associated Laboratory CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (LA/P/0006/2020)
acknowledgements
This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020, UIDP/50011/2020, and LA/P/0006/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC (PIDDAC). The funding of the European Research Council for the project REBORN (ERC-2019-ADG-883370) is acknowledged. This work was also funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Grant Agreement No. 101079482 ("SUPRALIFE"). The authors acknowledge the financial support by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the doctoral grant (SFRH/BD/141834/2018, P.L.), and through an assistant researcher contract (2022.02106.CEECIND, V.M.G.).