Research

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Synthetic Biology underpins advances in the bioeconomy

Biological systems - including the simplest cells - exhibit a broad range of functions to thrive in their environment. Research in the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology is focused on the possibility of engineering the underlying biochemical processes to solve many of the challenges facing society, from healthcare to sustainable energy. In particular, we model, analyse, design and build biological and biochemical systems in living cells and/or in cell extracts, both exploring and enhancing the engineering potential of biology. 

As part of our research we develop novel methods to accelerate the celebrated Design-Build-Test-Learn synthetic biology cycle. As such research in the Centre for Synthetic Biology highly multi- and interdisciplinary covering computational modelling and machine learning approaches; automated platform development and genetic circuit engineering ; multi-cellular and multi-organismal interactions, including gene drive and genome engineering; metabolic engineering; in vitro/cell-free synthetic biology; engineered phages and directed evolution; and biomimetics, biomaterials and biological engineering.

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Walker:2017:10.1017/erm.2017.7,
author = {Walker, BJ and stan, GB and Polizzi, KM},
doi = {10.1017/erm.2017.7},
journal = {Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine},
title = {Intracellular delivery of biologic therapeutics by bacterial secretion systems},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/erm.2017.7},
volume = {19},
year = {2017}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Biologics are a promising new class of drugs based on complex macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. However, delivery of these macromolecules into the cytoplasm of target cells remains a significant challenge. Here we present one potential solution: bacterial nanomachines that have evolved over millions of years to efficiently deliver proteins and nucleic acids across cell membranes and between cells. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the different bacterial systems capable of direct delivery into the eukaryotic cytoplasm and the medical applications for which they are being investigated, along with a perspective on the future directions of this exciting field.
AU  - Walker,BJ
AU  - stan,GB
AU  - Polizzi,KM
DO  - 10.1017/erm.2017.7
PY  - 2017///
SN  - 1462-3994
TI  - Intracellular delivery of biologic therapeutics by bacterial secretion systems
T2  - Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/erm.2017.7
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/45042
VL  - 19
ER  -
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