Modelling the Assembly of Artificial Cells into Artificial Organisms

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Recent advances in synthetic biology, polymer chemistry, and microfluidics have made the first “artificial cells” a reality. These entities are non-living, micron-sized compartments that allow exchange of certain chemicals with the surrounding environment. Other biomolecules, such as enzymes, encapsulated in the cell enable programmable metabolic pathways to be implemented. ******It is now timely to explore the possibilities for artificial cells that we can create with the potent tools that are becoming available. The overarching goal of this research program is to guide this exploration by developing theory to model artificial cells, or microrobots, that exhibit collective behaviours and functionality mimicking those of living organisms. ******One process we are inspired by is morphogenesis, by which nearly all organisms, from bacteria to humans, form distinct structures with distinct purposes. We will construct models describing artificial cells that communicate with each other using chemical signals and spontaneously form “artificial organisms”, where collections of cells of a particular type cluster together in predetermined locations just as tissues and organs develop in biological organisms. ******To achieve our synthetic version of morphogenesis, two ingredients are needed: (A) mechanisms for directed motility of the cells, and (B) chemical signalling among cells to establish their relative locations. This research program will study biological examples of swimming microorganisms, such as bacteria, to understand and propose suitable mechanisms for achieving controlled motility in relatively simple artificial cells. An emphasis will be placed on locomotion in the presence of solid surfaces. We will also use mathematical modelling to design networks of interacting chemical reactions that coordinate activity throughout the colony of cells. ******Artificial cells have many uses in medicine; applications as red blood cell substitutes and drug carriers have already received much attention from the scientific community. Advances in designing “smart” artificial cells that can monitor conditions in a patient, travel to specific parts of the body, and coordinate activity would be a significant achievement in minimally invasive healthcare.******Investigating the motion of microorganisms near surfaces has implications not only for how to control microrobots or swimming artificial cells, but also how bacteria naturally colonise surfaces, leading to the formation of biofilms. Fouling by biofilms is a dangerous problem on biomedical implants and is also a costly nuisance in many industries, such as shipping, power plants, water treatment plants, and aquaculture. It is anticipated that our research will lead to new strategies for designing biofouling-resistant surfaces.