Instead of creating materials that are made to last, Freeman says their materials are made to task — perform a specific function and then modify themselves to serve a new function. 

This achievement holds significant promise for advancements in regenerative medicine, drug delivery methods, and diagnostic technologies.

“With this discovery, we can think of engineering fabrics or tissues that can be sensitive to changes in their environment and behave in dynamic ways,” states Freeman.

Generating artificial cells

Cells and tissues rely on proteins to carry out various tasks and construct vital structures. One such structure, the cytoskeleton, serves as the framework of a cell, enabling it to function properly.

The cytoskeleton is crucial for maintaining cell shape and facilitating responses to the surrounding environment.

The team developed artificial cells with functional cytoskeletons using a novel approach that bypasses natural proteins. They developed a cutting-edge technology called programmable peptide-DNA technology.

This method orchestrates a collaboration between peptides, the basic building blocks of proteins, and repurposed genetic material to construct a cytoskeleton.

As a result, these engineered cells can adapt their shape and respond to environmental cues, showcasing the remarkable potential of synthetic biology.

Possible practical applications

“DNA does not normally appear in a cytoskeleton. We reprogrammed sequences of DNA so that it acts as an architectural material, binding the peptides together,” Freeman said. “Once this programmed material was placed in a droplet of water, the structures took shape.”

This never-before-seen capability to program DNA empowers scientists to design cells tailored for specific purposes and even regulate how these cells respond to external stresses.

While synthetic cells crafted by the Freeman Lab lack the complexity of living cells, they offer a level of predictability and resilience to harsh conditions such as extreme temperatures.

Rather than focusing on creating enduring materials, Freeman emphasizes the adaptability of these cells—they are engineered to perform specific functions and then adapt to new tasks.

By incorporating different peptide or DNA designs, these materials can be customized to program cells within fabrics or tissues. This versatility opens up possibilities for integration with other synthetic cell technologies, potentially revolutionizing fields like biotechnology and medicine.

“This research helps us understand what makes life,” Freeman says. “This synthetic cell technology will not just enable us to reproduce what nature does, but also make materials that surpass biology.”

This study was published in Nature Chemistry.