Abstract Engineering the process of molecular translation, or protein biosynthesis, has emerged as a major opportunity in synthetic and chemical biology to generate novel biological insights and enable new applications (e.g. designer protein therapeutics). Here, we review methods for engineering the process of translation in vitro. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks of the two major strategies—purified and extract-based systems—and how they may be used to manipulate and study translation. Techniques to engineer each component of the translation machinery are covered in turn, including transfer RNAs, translation factors, and the ribosome. Finally, future directions and enabling technological advances for the field are discussed.
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From Arteries to Capillaries: Approaches to Engineering Human Vasculature
From microscaled capillaries to millimeter‐sized vessels, human vasculature spans multiple scales and cell types. The convergence of bioengineering, materials science, and stem cell biology has enabled tissue engineers to recreate the structure and function of different hierarchical levels of the vascular tree. Engineering large‐scale vessels aims to replace damaged arteries, arterioles, and venules and their routine application in the clinic may become a reality in the near future. Strategies to engineer meso‐ and microvasculature are extensively explored to generate models for studying vascular biology, drug transport, and disease progression as well as for vascularizing engineered tissues for regenerative medicine. However, bioengineering tissues for transplantation has failed to result in clinical translation due to the lack of proper integrated vasculature for effective oxygen and nutrient delivery. The development of strategies to generate multiscale vascular networks and their direct anastomosis to host vasculature would greatly benefit this formidable goal. In this review, design considerations and technologies for engineering millimeter‐, meso‐, and microscale vessels are discussed. Examples of recent state‐of‐the‐art strategies to engineer multiscale vasculature are also provided. Finally, key challenges limiting the translation of vascularized tissues are identified and perspectives on future directions for exploration are presented.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 1647837
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10360428
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Advanced Functional Materials
- Volume:
- 30
- Issue:
- 37
- ISSN:
- 1616-301X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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This article is categorized under:
Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanotechnology in Tissue Repair and Replacement
