Living Cell Materials for Advanced Biomedical Applications in Disease Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Living cell materials (LCMs)—comprising living cells integrated with synthetic or non-biological components—synergistically combine the intrinsic properties of living cells with the superior functionalities of synthetic materials, enabling precise disease diagnosis and customized therapies. The construction methods and biomedical applications of LCMs are summarized in this review.

Abstract

Tailored and personalized therapies have gained significant attention for their great potential to minimize treatment-related side effects, mitigate immunological rejection, and improve disease prognosis. In this context, living cell materials (LCMs)—comprising living cells integrated with synthetic or non-biological components—synergistically combine the intrinsic properties of living cells with the superior functionalities of synthetic materials, enabling precise disease diagnosis and customized therapies. In this review, the characteristics and advantages of various living mammalian and bacterial cells utilized in the fabrication of living materials are summarized. Different methodologies (encapsulation, surface coating, intracellular loading, and cell backpack) for constructing LCMs, highlighting the benefits and limitations of each approach, along with their diverse applications in diagnosis and treatment are also discussed. Finally, the potential strategies are addressed to enhance the safety of living cell therapies, exploit novel functionalities, and facilitate the translation of fundamental research into clinical practice.