Cell type-specific interfaces within living animals will be invaluable for achieving communication with identifiable cells over the long term, enabling applications across many scientific and medical fields. However, biological tissues exhibit complex and dynamic organization properties that pose serious challenges for chronic cell-specific interfacing. A new technology, combining chemistry and molecular biology, has emerged to address this challenge: genetically targeted chemical assembly (GTCA), in which specific cells are genetically programmed (even in wild-type or non-transgenic animals, including mammals) to chemically construct non-biological structures. Here, we discuss recent progress in genetically targeted construction of materials and outline opportunities that may expand the GTCA toolbox, including specific chemical processes involving novel monomers, catalysts and reaction regimes both de cellula (from the cell) and ad cellula (towards the cell); different GTCA-compatible reaction conditions with a focus on light-based patterning; and potential applications of GTCA in research and clinical settings.
The emerging field of genetically targeted chemical assembly (GTCA) uses cell-specific genetic information to instruct chemical synthesis in situ. This Perspective discusses recent progress in GTCA and outlines opportunities for expanding the GTCA toolbox and diversifying applications.
Key points: Genetically targeted chemical assembly (GTCA) uses cell-specific genetic information to guide the assembly of functional materials in situ.The GTCA toolbox can be expanded through specific chemical processes involving novel monomers, catalysts and reaction conditions or regimes.GTCA allows both building structures from the targeted cell membrane (de cellula) and an alternative approach (ad cellula) for cell-specific attachment of partially synthesized materials.Different GTCA-compatible reaction conditions can be imposed through modulation of light, pH, heat and other signals.The broad GTCA concept can be applied for both fundamental research and the treatment of diseases in the central and peripheral nervous systems.