title: Artificial spores: cytocompatible encapsulation of individual living cells within thin, tough artificial shells.
abstract: Cells are encapsulated individually within thin and tough shells in a cytocompatible way, by mimicking the structure of bacterial endospores that survive under hostile conditions. The 3D 'cell-in-shell' structures-coined as 'artificial spores'-enable modulation and control over cellular metabolism, such as control of cell division, resistance to external stresses, and surface-functionalizability, providing a useful platform for applications, including cell-based sensors, cell therapy, regenerative medicine, as well as for fundamental studies on cellular metabolism at the single-cell level and cell-to-cell communications. This Concept focuses on chemical approaches to single-cell encapsulation with artificial shells for creating artificial spores, including cross-linked layer-by-layer assembly, bioinspired mineralization, and mussel-inspired polymerization. The current status and future prospects of this emerging field are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry Education, Korea National University of Education, Chungbuk 363-791, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Daewha
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Juno
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eun Hyea
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Insung S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D055162:Biocatalysis; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials