All articles tagged with #liposomes
Scientists built a non-living, liposome-based synthetic cell that completed a full division cycle—growing, duplicating its DNA, and splitting into two—by using membrane-targeting protein tags; a landmark in synthetic biology, though the cell relies on external ribosomes and materials to survive.
Researchers built SpudCells—synthetic, non-living cells formed from chemical components and lab-made DNA—that grow, copy their genome, and divide in a nutrient-rich solution by fusing with feeder liposomes, marking the first demonstration of a complete synthetic-cell life cycle. While not alive and dependent on external chemicals, they offer a controllable chassis for testing biological circuits and could underpin future biotechnologies; the work appeared as a preprint and has spurred plans to form Biotic to advance the approach toward an 'operating system for life'.
Researchers are investigating how cancer uses extracellular vesicles to colonize new organs and are creating artificial liposomes that mimic these vesicles to observe uptake by cancer cells in real time, with the goal of delivering targeted therapies and ultimately blocking metastasis while improving drug delivery.
Researchers at IBEC have developed the world's simplest artificial cell capable of chemotaxis, using lipid vesicles with enzymes and pores to navigate chemical gradients, shedding light on fundamental biological movement mechanisms.