Synthetic control of living cells by intracellular polymerization

Integrating synthetic polymers into cellular cytosol offers new opportunities in cellular engineering, enabling precise modification of cellular states and functionalities, and unlocking new avenues for developing biomimetic materials.Intracellular polymerization of eukaryotic cells enables new design principles for anticancer treatment, live cell tracking, immunoengineering, regenerative medicine, and pathogen detection.Polymerized prokaryotic cells can be bestowed with desirable properties – including nonreplicating but metabolically active, enhanced cell-membrane integrity, and increased environmental stress resistance – for synthetic biology studies.The ability to control cellular state and generate robust cell-like biomaterials by intracellular polymerization has broad biomedical applicability in fundamental and translational research. An emerging cellular engineering method creates synthetic polymer matrices inside cells. By contrast with classical genetic, enzymatic, or radioactive techniques, this materials-based approach introduces non-natural polymers inside cells, thus modifying cellular states and functionalities. Here, we cover various materials and chemistries that have been exploited to create intracellular polymer matrices. In addition, we discuss emergent cellular properties due to the intracellular polymerization, including nonreplicating but active metabolism, maintenance of membrane integrity, and resistance to environmental stressors. We also discuss past work and future opportunities for developing and applying synthetic cells that contain intracellular polymers. The materials-based approach will usher in new applications of synthetic cells for broad biotechnological applications. An emerging cellular engineering method creates synthetic polymer matrices inside cells. By contrast with classical genetic, enzymatic, or radioactive techniques, this materials-based approach introduces non-natural polymers inside cells, thus modifying cellular states and functionalities. Here, we cover various materials and chemistries that have been exploited to create intracellular polymer matrices. In addition, we discuss emergent cellular properties due to the intracellular polymerization, including nonreplicating but active metabolism, maintenance of membrane integrity, and resistance to environmental stressors. We also discuss past work and future opportunities for developing and applying synthetic cells that contain intracellular polymers. The mater