Designing Artificial Cells towards a New Generation of Biosensors

The combination of biological and synthetic materials has great potential to generate new types of biosensors. Toward this goal, recent advances in artificial cell development have demonstrated the capacity to detect a variety of analytes and environmental changes by encapsulating genetically encoded sensors within bilayer membranes, expanding the contexts within which biologically based sensing can operate. This chassis not only acts as a container for cellfree sensors, but can also play an active role in artificial cell sensing by serving as an additional gate mediating the transfer of environmental information. Here, we focus on recent progress toward stimuli-responsive artificial cells and discuss strategies for membrane functionalization in order to expand cell-free biosensing capabilities and applications.

Automated summary

The combination of biological and synthetic materials shows promise in creating new biosensors. Recent advances in artificial cell development, where genetically encoded sensors are encapsulated within bilayer membranes, expand the range of biologically based sensing and offer strategies for membrane functionalization to enhance cell-free biosensing capabilities and applications.