Emerging biomedical applications of synthetic biology

Key Points A decade after the report of the first devices, synthetic biology has developed into an engineering science that provides novel opportunities to understand, diagnose, prevent and treat diseases. Chemical synthesis and reconstruction of extinct or difficult-to-propagate viral genomes improves our understanding of virulence factors. The de novo synthesis of deoptimized viral genomes enables the production of safe life vaccines. Engineering environmentally responsive dominant-lethal genetic circuits into disease-transmitting insects provides a highly specific approach for controlling disease propagation. The reconstruction of bacterial resistance circuits in mammalian cells enables the integrated discovery of agents to overcome resistance. Engineered bacteria and synthetic genetic circuits that specifically detect and destroy neoplastic cells will provide momentum to future cancer therapies. Molecular prostheses that detect disease states and autonomously trigger a therapeutic response in a closed-loop control configuration provide novel opportunities in the treatment of genetic and acquired diseases. Synthetic gene circuits will provide novel opportunities for future gene and cell-based therapies. Synthetic biological devices can be engineered to achieve high levels of precision and specificity, which makes them ideally suited for use in clinical settings. Devices are being developed to meet a range of biomedical needs, including specific cancer therapies and metabolic control. Synthetic biology aims to create functional devices, systems and organisms with novel and useful functions on the basis of catalogued and standardized biological building blocks. Although they were initially constructed to elucidate the dynamics of simple processes, designed devices now contribute to the understanding of disease mechanisms, provide novel diagnostic tools, enable economic production of therapeutics and allow the design of novel strategies for the treatment of cancer, immune diseases and metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and gout, as well as a range of infectious diseases. In this Review, we cover the impact and potential of synthetic biology for biomedical applications.