How can cellular engineering improve tissue engineering?

1 Mechanobiology and cellular engineering

Mechanobiology is the study of how mechanical forces and cues affect cellular function and fate. Cells can sense and respond to various mechanical stimuli, such as stiffness, stress, strain, shear, and pressure, through specialized mechanoreceptors and signaling pathways. Cellular engineering can exploit these mechanosensitive mechanisms to control cell behavior and tissue formation. For example, cellular engineering can use biophysical methods, such as micropatterning, microfabrication, and magnetic manipulation, to create artificial niches that mimic the native mechanical properties and geometry of the tissue. These methods can influence cell shape, alignment, polarity, and differentiation, as well as guide tissue self-assembly and organization. Cellular engineering can also use biochemical methods, such as gene editing, optogenetics, and chemogenetics, to modulate the expression and activity of mechanoreceptors and mechanotransducers, such as integrins, cadherins, ion channels, and cytoskeletal proteins. These methods can alter cell sensitivity and response to mechanical cues, as well as enable remote and reversible control of cell function.

2 Synthetic biology and cellular engineering

Synthetic biology is the engineering of biological systems with novel or enhanced functions. Cells can be engineered with synthetic gene circuits, biosensors, actuators, and metabolic pathways to perform specific tasks or behaviors. Cellular engineering can use synthetic biology to create cell-instructive biomaterials that can communicate with cells and modulate their function. For example, cellular engineering can use synthetic biology to design biomaterials that can secrete growth factors, cytokines, or extracellular matrix components in response to environmental signals, such as pH, temperature, or light. These biomaterials can provide dynamic and spatially controlled cues to cells and tissues. Cellular engineering can also use synthetic biology to engineer cells that can sense and report their state or function, such as apoptosis, differentiation, or inflammation. These cells can be used as biosensors or bioindicators for tissue engineering applications.

3 Microfluidics and cellular engineering

Microfluidics is the manipulation of fluids at the microscale using channels, valves, pumps, and mixers. Cells can be cultured and manipulated in microfluidic devices that can provide precise and high-throughput control of the fluidic environment. Cellular engineering can use microfluidics to create multicellular systems with defined spatial and temporal organization. For example, cellular engineering can use microfluidics to generate cell-laden droplets, capsules, or fibers that can be assembled into 3D tissue constructs with modular and hierarchical structures. These constructs can mimic the heterogeneity and complexity of native tissues. Cellular engineering can also use microfluidics to create microphysiological systems or organ-on-a-chip models that can recapitulate the anatomy and physiology of human organs. These models can enable the study of tissue function and disease mechanisms, as well as the screening of drugs and therapies.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?