Tools and applications in synthetic biology

I Cody MacDonald; Tara L Deans

doi:10.1016/j.addr.2016.08.008

Tools and applications in synthetic biology

Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2016 Oct 1;105(Pt A):20-34. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2016.08.008. Epub 2016 Aug 25.

Authors

I Cody MacDonald¹, Tara L Deans²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States.
² Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States. Electronic address: tara.deans@utah.edu.

PMID: 27568463
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2016.08.008

Abstract

Advances in synthetic biology have enabled the engineering of cells with genetic circuits in order to program cells with new biological behavior, dynamic gene expression, and logic control. This cellular engineering progression offers an array of living sensors that can discriminate between cell states, produce a regulated dose of therapeutic biomolecules, and function in various delivery platforms. In this review, we highlight and summarize the tools and applications in bacterial and mammalian synthetic biology. The examples detailed in this review provide insight to further understand genetic circuits, how they are used to program cells with novel functions, and current methods to reliably interface this technology in vivo; thus paving the way for the design of promising novel therapeutic applications.

Keywords: Cell therapy; Gene networks; Genetic circuits; Synthetic biology.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Gene Regulatory Networks
Humans
Synthetic Biology / methods*