Protected dimeric protein pores for selective interface between living and artificial systems

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Synapses enable exchange of material between cells. Artificial cells (ACs) - microrobots displaying cell-like behaviours - hold great promise in fundamental biology and healthcare, and the ability to form synapses between artificial and biological cells would unlock new and powerful diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. However, the complexity of natural synapses makes their reconstitution in ACs challenging, pointing at the need for de novo routes to establish synapse-like functionalities. To overcome this hurdle, the proposed project will combine protein engineering and DNA nanotechnology to create a molecular toolkit that will afford ACs with the ability to form synthetic synapses with cells.