Team designs artificial cells that communicate and cooperate like biological cells, ants

Inspired by the social interactions of ants and slime molds, University of Pittsburgh engineers have designed artificial cells capable of self-organising into independent groups that can communicate and cooperate. Recently reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the research is a significant step toward producing synthetic cells that behave like natural organisms and could perform important, microscale functions in fields ranging from the chemical industry to medicine.

The team presents in the PNAS paper computational models that provide a blueprint for developing artificial cells - or microcapsules - that can communicate, move independently, and transport 'cargo' such as chemicals needed for reactions. Most importantly, the 'biologically inspired' devices function entirely through simple physical and chemical processes, behaving like complex natural organisms but without the complicated internal biochemistry, said corresponding author Anna Balazs, Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering in Pitt's Swanson School of Engineering.

The Pitt group's microcapsules interact by secreting nanoparticles in a way similar to that used by biological cells signal to communicate and assemble into groups. And with a nod to ants, the cells leave chemical trails as they travel, prompting fellow microcapsules to follow. Balazs worked with lead author German Kolmakov and Victor Yashin, both postdoctoral researchers in Pitt's Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, who produced the cell models; and with Pitt professor of electrical and computer engineering Steven Levitan, who devised the ant-like trailing ability.

The researchers write that communication hinges on the interaction between microcapsules exchanging two different types of nanoparticles. The 'signalling' cell secretes nanoparticles known as agonists that prompt the second 'target' microcapsule to emit nanoparticles known as antagonists.

Video of this interaction is available on Pitt's Web site and featured below, one of several videos of the artificial cells Pitt has provided. As the signalling cell (right) emits the agonist nanoparticles (shown as blue), the target cell (left) responds with antagonists (shown as red) that stop the first cell from secreting. Once the signalling cell goes dormant, the target cell likewise stops releasing antagonists - which makes the signalling cell start up again. The microcapsules get locked into a cycle that equates to an intercellular conversation, a dialogue humans could control by adjusting the capsules' permeability and the quantity of nanoparticles they contain.

Locomotion results as the released nanoparticles alter the surface underneath the microcapsules. The cell's polymer-based walls begin to push on the fluid surrounding the capsule and the fluid pushes back even harder, moving the capsule. At the same time, the nanoparticles from the signalling cell pull it toward the target cells. Groups of capsules begin to form as the signalling cell rolls along, picking up target cells. In practical use, Balazs said, the signalling cell could transport target cells loaded with cargo; the team's next step is to control the order in which target cells are collected and dropped off.

The researchers adjusted the particle output of the signalling cell to create various cell formations, some of which are shown in the videos available on Pitt's Web site and with this release. The first clip - titled 'Ant Trail Formation' - shows the trailing 'ants,' wherein the particle secretions of one microcapsule group are delayed until another group passes by and activates it. The newly awakened cluster then follows the chemical residue left behind by the lead group.

A second film, titled 'Dragon Formation,' depicts a 'dragon' formation comprising two cooperating signalling cells (shown as red) leading a large group of targets. Similar to these are 'snakes' made up of competing signalling capsules pulling respective lines of target cells.