Synthetic polymers play a crucial role in cell biology, such as for serving as delivery vehicles for DNA and drugs, acting as fluorescent probes for cellular sensing, functioning as bioinks for tissue engineering, and mimicking biological functionality (e.g. artificial antigen-presenting cells). However, synthesizing polymers within an intracellular microenvironment remains challenging due to the complex intracellular environment that may hinder or suppress such reactions.

Recently, Prof. GENG Jin's team at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has detailed two innovative methods for intracellular polymerization using light stimuli for biomedical applications.

The findings were published in Nature Protocols on Mar. 21.

In this study, researchers demonstrated the initiation of polymerization reactions, such as reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer or free radical polymerization, by introducing highly biocompatible monomers into living cells and using photoactivation.

They found that the use of light initiation achieves precise spatial and temporal control over the polymerization process, with fast reaction kinetics and good biocompatibility. It only takes a few minutes (usually depending on the wavelength, about 5-10 minutes) to synthesize macromolecular polymers with different structures, and this brief reaction time is crucial to avoid causing cellular stress and denaturation of cellular contents.

In comparison with alternative methods, the proposed approach offers the potential to modulate various cellular functions, such as motility, differentiation, proliferation and cell–cell interactions, making it a promising avenue for therapeutic interventions.

The protocol paper summarized the technical details of two methods for achieving intracellular polymerization: conventional photo-polymerization via free radicals and photoinduced electron/energy transfer-reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Additionally, it also provides guidelines for the synthesis and isolation of His-tagged intracellular polymers.

“The ability to produce customized functional polymers within cells brings us closer to advanced therapeutic strategies and innovative bioimaging methods,” said Prof. GENG. “Our study could represent a captivating frontier in the realm of biomedicine, holding great promise for future developments”.

Light-mediated intracellular polymerization (Image by SIAT)

Media Contact: LU Qun

Email: qun.lu@siat.ac.cn

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