Light-Activated Communication Between Synthetic and Living Cells via Photoresponsive Membranes

Abstract

Synthetic cells (SCs) are programmable biomimetic systems that reproduce selected cellular functions while offering high structural and functional controllability. A particularly attractive feature of SCs is their ability to respond to external stimuli, enabling regulated cargo release and communication with living cells. Here, we report a light-responsive SC platform capable of establishing chemically mediated communication with human cancer cells. Upon light stimulation, the SCs release signaling molecules, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and histamine, that activate intracellular calcium signaling pathways in target cells. These results demonstrate the feasibility of remotely controlled communication between synthetic and living cells and highlight the potential of SCs as bio-hybrid interfaces for precise cellular modulation, therapeutic delivery, artificial organelles, and other biomedical applications.