Engineering Protocell Networks for Prototissue Development

The assembly of protocells into prototissues represents a significant leap forward in replicating the hierarchical structure and complex functions of biological tissues, bridging the gap between synthetic cells and functional tissue-like systems. This review discusses the methods for spatially organizing protocells into well-defined, functional prototissues, highlighting their key properties and exploring their promising biomedical applications.

Abstract

The assembly of protocells into prototissues represents a significant step forward in mimicking the hierarchical structure and complex functions of biological tissues. This review explores the construction of various protocell models, including lipid vesicles, polymer vesicles, proteinosomes, membraneless coacervates, and emulsion droplets. It examines the range of chemical and physical methods employed to spatially organize these protocells into structured, functional prototissues. Furthermore, the review highlights the distinctive properties of prototissues, such as their ability to facilitate intra- and inter-protocell communication, exhibit collective behaviors like oscillations and deformation, and their promising applications in biomedicine. By bridging the gap between synthetic cells and functional tissue-like systems, this review provides insights into the design, fabrication, and potential applications of prototissues in synthetic biology and regenerative medicine.