Synthetic cell research, also known as bottom-up synthetic biology, aims to understand how cells work by trying to reproduce their molecular mechanisms, with the ultimate ambition of building functional cells from scratch, i.e. synthetic cells. These cell-like structures will have the ability to perform at least three of the main functions of living cells: metabolism, DNA processing, and division.
Synthetic cell research attempts to answer the fundamental question of how life works and will lead to a new green technology based on mimicking natural processes, with applications in many areas.
We focus our activities on three main areas:
- fostering collaboration among scientists on bottom-up synthetic biology;
- stimulating cooperation between scientists and industry for the development of new technologies from this research, to obtain 100% green materials and compounds, made from cells;
- facilitating ethical and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) discussions that will lead to an ethical, societal and legal framework for the creation of synthetic cells.
Ultimately we aim to develop a European Research and Innovation Ecosystem in Bottom-up Synthetic Biology: a virtual institute with a coordination office at Delft University of Technology to foster collaboration between research hubs and companies across Europe.
Technological developments in the field of bottom-up synthetic biology will accelerate dramatically all over the world over the next 5-10 years. Investment is essential if we are to rapidly translate synthetic cell research into innovation in Europe. We also advocate for funding instruments that are adapted to a coordinated pan-European science and technology program.
Building a synthetic cell and the fundamental knowledge that accompanies it will have an impact that goes beyond scientific discoveries and will influence a wide range of industries in the fields of health, food, energy and biobased materials:
Health
- Drugs that are able to target specific locations and tissues in the body
- Patient‐tailored treatments in personal medicine (a.o. for cancer)
- New applications in drug delivery systems
- Novel screening methods for antibiotics and drugs, biosensors and against antimicrobial resistance
Materials
- New, smart and environment‐friendlier materials for high‐tech industry
- New biodegradable polymers
Energy
- New biofuels
Food
- Facilitation of sustainable production of safe and healthy food
- New materials for food biotechnology
- New methods for pathogen control
Pharmaceuticals, food, nutrition, self-healing materials, bioplastics and sustainable fuels are a few examples of applications that come from the research field of building synthetic cells. The interest of companies will grow even more as the reality of a synthetic cell comes closer.
The path towards a synthetic cell involves the development of numerous methods and tools with important spin-off possibilities in the form of test beds for synthetic biology applications, advanced drug delivery systems, drug-screening methods, and bionanodevices for multiplex detection of molecules.
The European Synthetic Cell Initiative is a formal partnership between research institutions from the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Spain:
- Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), which coordinates the initiative;
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry;
- Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternative (CEA);
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).
