DNA-Based Cell Surface Engineering for Programming Multiple Cell-Cell Interactions

Cell-cell interactions refer to the direct interactions between cell surfaces and play an important role in various cell activities. To achieve precise regulation of cell-cell interactions via DNA-based cell surface engineering, the prerequisite is to modify cell surface with DNA for conferring recognition or targeting capability on these host cells. Hydrophobic insertion is a favorable noncovalent approach to tethering DNA molecules to cell membrane. DNA nanotechnology has long been employed for the assembly of complex structures of nanoparticles, and the DNA-based self-assembled constructs can inform design rules for cell assembly in spite of their size being significantly smaller than cells. With the development of DNA-based cell surface engineering strategies, DNA nanotechnology has been also applied to the complex arrangements of cells. Based on the functionalization of DNA molecules, the modified cells can acquire new functions of molecular recognition that do not necessarily exist in nature.