435 research outputs found

    A Role for Bottom-Up Synthetic Cells in the Internet of Bio-Nano Things?

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    The potential role of bottom-up Synthetic Cells (SCs) in the Internet of Bio-Nano Things (IoBNT) is discussed. In particular, this perspective paper focuses on the growing interest in networks of biological and/or artificial objects at the micro- and nanoscale (cells and subcellular parts, microelectrodes, microvessels, etc.), whereby communication takes place in an unconventional manner, i.e., via chemical signaling. The resulting "molecular communication" (MC) scenario paves the way to the development of innovative technologies that have the potential to impact biotechnology, nanomedicine, and related fields. The scenario that relies on the interconnection of natural and artificial entities is briefly introduced, highlighting how Synthetic Biology (SB) plays a central role. SB allows the construction of various types of SCs that can be designed, tailored, and programmed according to specific predefined requirements. In particular, "bottom-up" SCs are briefly described by commenting on the principles of their design and fabrication and their features (in particular, the capacity to exchange chemicals with other SCs or with natural biological cells). Although bottom-up SCs still have low complexity and thus basic functionalities, here, we introduce their potential role in the IoBNT. This perspective paper aims to stimulate interest in and discussion on the presented topics. The article also includes commentaries on MC, semantic information, minimal cognition, wetware neuromorphic engineering, and chemical social robotics, with the specific potential they can bring to the IoBNT

    A Role for Bottom-Up Synthetic Cells in the Internet of Bio-Nano Things?

    Get PDF
    he potential role of bottom-up Synthetic Cells (SCs) in the Internet of Bio-Nano Things (IoBNT) is discussed. In particular, this perspective paper focuses on the growing interest in networks of biological and/or artificial objects at the micro- and nanoscale (cells and subcellular parts, microelectrodes, microvessels, etc.), whereby communication takes place in an unconventional manner, i.e., via chemical signaling. The resulting “molecular communication” (MC) scenario paves the way to the development of innovative technologies that have the potential to impact biotechnology, nanomedicine, and related fields. The scenario that relies on the interconnection of natural and artificial entities is briefly introduced, highlighting how Synthetic Biology (SB) plays a central role. SB allows the construction of various types of SCs that can be designed, tailored, and programmed according to specific predefined requirements. In particular, “bottom-up” SCs are briefly described by commenting on the principles of their design and fabrication and their features (in particular, the capacity to exchange chemicals with other SCs or with natural biological cells). Although bottom-up SCs still have low complexity and thus basic functionalities, here, we introduce their potential role in the IoBNT. This perspective paper aims to stimulate interest in and discussion on the presented topics. The article also includes commentaries on MC, semantic information, minimal cognition, wetware neuromorphic engineering, and chemical social robotics, with the specific potential they can bring to the IoBNT

    Using MapReduce Streaming for Distributed Life Simulation on the Cloud

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    Distributed software simulations are indispensable in the study of large-scale life models but often require the use of technically complex lower-level distributed computing frameworks, such as MPI. We propose to overcome the complexity challenge by applying the emerging MapReduce (MR) model to distributed life simulations and by running such simulations on the cloud. Technically, we design optimized MR streaming algorithms for discrete and continuous versions of Conway’s life according to a general MR streaming pattern. We chose life because it is simple enough as a testbed for MR’s applicability to a-life simulations and general enough to make our results applicable to various lattice-based a-life models. We implement and empirically evaluate our algorithms’ performance on Amazon’s Elastic MR cloud. Our experiments demonstrate that a single MR optimization technique called strip partitioning can reduce the execution time of continuous life simulations by 64%. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to propose and evaluate MR streaming algorithms for lattice-based simulations. Our algorithms can serve as prototypes in the development of novel MR simulation algorithms for large-scale lattice-based a-life models.https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/scs_books/1014/thumbnail.jp

    Exploring communication and collective behaviour between spatially organised inorganic protocell communities

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    A living system profoundly relies on mass, information and energy interactions through cell-cell and cell-environment networks. As a step towards understanding such interactions, it is beneficial to design and create bottom-up artificial living systems from non-living components, with a specific focus on synergistic interactivity between artificial cells (protocells) and their local environment. Although there are several routes for fabricating protocellular systems, we recognise key challenges associated with a) developing protocellular models with high levels of organisational tunability, b) achieving cell-environment bilateral communication, and c) realising autonomous self-assembly and regulation of protocell systems. The aim of this thesis is thus to review some matrix-based and matrix-free methods of inorganic protocell (colloidosome) 3D-spatial organisation, as judicious system designs capable of cell-cell and cell-environment communication, collective behaviours, and dynamic self-assembly, in close relation with local environments.The first experimental chapter details assembly of colloidosomes within hydrogel or coacervate-based matrices. A droplet microfluidic technique is employed as a novel method for encapsulating segregated colloidosome colonies within alginate hydrogel microspheres. The technique exploits high tunability for customisable size, ratio, microscale geometry, and 3D-patterning parameters. Benefiting from the versatility associated with such matrix-based systems, the second experimental chapter develops 3D-organised colloidosomes for collective signalling and emergent behaviours. Notably, spatially segregated colonies show proximity-mediated chemical communication with increased kinetics compared to analogous homogenous arrangements. This proximity-enhanced colloidosome signalling is exploited, alongside segregated ionic/covalent crosslinking transitions in the environment, to obtain simultaneous structural degradation and resilience of hydrogel hemispheres as a programmable mechanism for protocell ejection. Colloidosomes are also employed as simple signalling hotspots within coacervate-matrix systems. The final experimental chapter aims to re-imagine colloidosome organisation into a matrix-free system, capable of dynamic self-assembly and self-sorting via electrostatically-active membrane appendages. Alginate-coated and chitosan-coated colloidosomes are either co-assembled or self-sorted, in response to varied pH environments. Again, these systems are highly coordinated with their environment and as such, can be spatially pattered according to temporal pH changes through endogenous enzyme catalysis. Furthermore, a spatiotemporal effect on the rate of colloidosome communication in the presence of a hostile guest molecule is demonstrated. <br/

    Emerging Strategies to Bypass Transplant Rejection via Biomaterial-Assisted Immunoengineering:Insights from Islets and Beyond

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    Novel transplantation techniques are currently under development to preserve the function of impaired tissues or organs. While current technologies can enhance the survival of recipients, they have remained elusive to date due to graft rejection by undesired in vivo immune responses despite systemic prescription of immunosuppressants. The need for life-long immunomodulation and serious adverse effects of current medicines, the development of novel biomaterial-based immunoengineering strategies has attracted much attention lately. Immunomodulatory 3D platforms can alter immune responses locally and/or prevent transplant rejection through the protection of the graft from the attack of immune system. These new approaches aim to overcome the complexity of the long-term administration of systemic immunosuppressants, including the risks of infection, cancer incidence, and systemic toxicity. In addition, they can decrease the effective dose of the delivered drugs via direct delivery at the transplantation site. In this review, we comprehensively address the immune rejection mechanisms, followed by recent developments in biomaterial-based immunoengineering strategies to prolong transplant survival. We also compare the efficacy and safety of these new platforms with conventional agents. Finally, challenges and barriers for the clinical translation of the biomaterial-based immunoengineering transplants and prospects are discussed

    Opinions and Outlooks on Morphological Computation

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