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Cytomimetic calcification in chemically self-regulated prototissues

Abstract:
The fabrication of cytomimetic materials capable of orchestrated and adaptive functions remains a significant challenge in bottom-up synthetic biology. Inspired by the cell/matrix integration of living bone, here we covalently tether distributed single populations of alkaline phosphatase-containing inorganic protocells (colloidosomes) onto a crosslinked organic network to establish viscoelastic tissue-like micro-composites. The prototissues are endogenously calcified with site-specific mineralization modalities involving selective intra-protocellular calcification, matrix-specific extra-protocellular calcification or gradient calcification. To mirror the interplay between osteoblasts and osteoclasts, we prepare integrated prototissues comprising a binary population of enzymatically active colloidosomes capable of endogenous calcification and decalcification and utilize chemical inputs to induce structural remodelling. Overall, our methodology opens a route to the chemically self-regulated calcification of homogeneous and gradient tissue-like mineral-matrix composites, advances the development of bottom-up synthetic biology in chemical materials research, and could provide potential opportunities in bioinspired tissue engineering, hydrogel technologies and bone biomimetics.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/s41467-025-59251-x

Authors

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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Physiology Anatomy and Genetics
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-7335-266X
More by this author
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-7105-6632
More by this author
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-3012-8964


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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/03zttf063
Grant:
2020-00747


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Nature Communications More from this journal
Volume:
16
Issue:
1
Article number:
4138
Place of publication:
England
Publication date:
2025-05-03
Acceptance date:
2025-04-16
DOI:
EISSN:
2041-1723
Pmid:
40319022


Language:
English
Pubs id:
2121876
Local pid:
pubs:2121876
Deposit date:
2025-05-09
ARK identifier:

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