Nano-guided cell networks as conveyors of molecular communication

Jessica L. Terrell, Hsuan-Chen Wu, Chen-Yu Tsao, Nathan B. Barber, Matthew D. Servinsky, Gregory F. Payne and William E. Bentley ()
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Jessica L. Terrell: University of Maryland, 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
Hsuan-Chen Wu: University of Maryland, 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
Chen-Yu Tsao: University of Maryland, 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
Nathan B. Barber: University of Maryland, 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
Matthew D. Servinsky: U.S. Army Research Laboratory
Gregory F. Payne: University of Maryland, 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
William E. Bentley: University of Maryland, 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Advances in nanotechnology have provided unprecedented physical means to sample molecular space. Living cells provide additional capability in that they identify molecules within complex environments and actuate function. We have merged cells with nanotechnology for an integrated molecular processing network. Here we show that an engineered cell consortium autonomously generates feedback to chemical cues. Moreover, abiotic components are readily assembled onto cells, enabling amplified and ‘binned’ responses. Specifically, engineered cell populations are triggered by a quorum sensing (QS) signal molecule, autoinducer-2, to express surface-displayed fusions consisting of a fluorescent marker and an affinity peptide. The latter provides means for attaching magnetic nanoparticles to fluorescently activated subpopulations for coalescence into colour-indexed output. The resultant nano-guided cell network assesses QS activity and conveys molecular information as a ‘bio-litmus’ in a manner read by simple optical means.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9500

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