Team:GeorgiaTech/Objective

Background

problem statement, previous work, and/or description of need

Cells perform their intended functions not individually but collectively by forming temporally evolving, three dimensional structures

comprised of clusters of cells, and through active or passive cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions.

Thus the development of engineered, integrative cellular systems that self-heal and adapt their microstructure to a variety of stimuli

in the surrounding microenvironment will revolutionize the way bioengineers design. The goals of EBICS is to address the grand challenge

of engineering multi-cellular biological machines that have desired functionalities and can perform prescribed tasks.

These machines consist of sensing, information processing, actuation, protein expression, and transport elements that can be

effectively combined to create functional units. Fortunately, nature provides plenty of inspiration through similarly functioning

organisms and systems. It is therefore feasible to assume that artificial materials and organisms of the future will incorporate such

naturally inspired designs. The imitation of the aforementioned functions will require development of systems similar to specialized cells in the

various human tissues. The GT iGEM team will work toward the lofty goal of developing of cells and/or extracellular vesicles

(e.g. platelets) that display designer sensory-response behaviors. In particular, small ‘smart’ biobots are an interesting

avenue to duplicate the function of cells responsible for repair and adaptation.

One of the tools that eukaryotic cells have at their disposal to detect their surroundings are heterodimeric sensor

molecules present on the cell surface, known as integrins. Not only do integrins receive and facilitate cellular integration

of extracellular cues, but they also support inside-out signaling and thus can dynamically impact their microenvironment.

As a consequence of integrin’s critical role in this cell-ECM “dynamic reciprocity”, they represent the ideal sensor to build

into a biobot. Synthetic biology applications are traditionally performed in the bacterial systems due to their availability,

convenience, and speed. In order to complete our goal of expressing human integrins on the surface of bacterial cells,

we will need a variety of lab and research materials necessary to experiment with the cells and eventually incorporate the

integrins onto them. We will then need a way to test the effectiveness of the integrins on the cells. All funds given to us will

help cover our lab material expenses.