A team from the University of Basel has successfully integrated
artificial organelles into the cells of living zebra fish embryos for the FIRST
TIME EVER! I this approach they used artificial organelles as cellular implants
offering new potential in treating a range of diseases. These cellular implants
could carry enzymes, which are able to convert a pharmaceutical ingredient into
the active substance. Which then releases it “on demand” under certain
conditions. Distributing drugs in this way could reduce the side affects and
usage.
These artificial organelles are based on tiny capsules,
which form spontaneously in solution from polymers. The artificial organelles
presented here contain a peroxidase enzyme. This enzyme only begins to act when
specific molecules penetrate the wall of the capsules. To control the way this substance
is disbursed through out the cell the researchers chemically modified natural
membrane proteins into the wall of the capsules. These proteins will act like
gates that open according to the glutathione concentration in the cell. The
researches chose zebra fish embryos because they have transparent bodies. Which
allow great tracking of the cellular implants under a microscope, when marked
with a florescent dye. When they injected the artificial organelles, they were
eaten by macrophages, which allowed it to make its way through the organism.
The researchers could then show that the peroxidase enzyme that was trapped inside
the artificial organelles was activated when hydrogen peroxide produced by the
macrophages entered through the protein gates.
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