Method for Single Cell Encapsulation via Metabolic Glycoengineering and Copper-Free Click Chemistry

摘要

A method of single-cell encapsulation of cells using glycoengineering and click-chemistry is provided. Cells are treated with a precursor for metabolic engineering to modify glycans in a cell membrane and form reactive component A-glycans in the cell membrane suitable for a click-chemistry reaction. The treated cells are suspended in a polymer solution which has a reactive component B suitable for the click-chemistry reaction. The reactive component A-glycans react via the click-chemistry with the reaction component B thereby forming single cell polymer encapsulated cells. Applications include optimizing stem cell function, cell to cell crosslinking, formation of networks of cells or organoids, functionalizing the cells with reactive groups or attaching the cells to a substrate or surface.