Abstract
Move over, Iron Man—now cells have their own protective suit of armor. By encasing living cells in an exoskeleton of nanoparticles, researchers have imbued them with a range of superpowers, including magnetism, fluorescence, enhanced stiffness, and resistance to harsh chemical conditions (Adv. Mater. 2019, DOI: 10.1002/adma.201900545). These “SupraCells” could eventually help researchers study cell biochemistry or deliver medical therapies, says C. Jeffrey Brinker of the University of New Mexico, part of the team behind the work. To make their first SupraCell, the researchers mixed HeLa cancer cells with 50 nm wide particles of a metal-organic framework (MOF) called ZIF-8. They then added tannic acid, which binds to zinc in the MOF, to form a tough network of nanoparticles around each cell in less than 1 min. Over 90% of the cells remained metabolically active, but they were unable to spread or reproduce. More SupraCells soon followed, combining various MOFs and
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
