Welcome to the International network of Artificial Cells, Blood Substitutes and Nanomedicine
While an undergraduate at the McGill Department of Physiology, Dr Thomas Chang invented and prepared the first artificial cells (Chang 1957 McGill). The Department preferred that he used the name “Semipermeable Microcapsules” for his Science paper (Chang 1964 Science). Others soon realized that these were artificial cells and invited him to give a lecture and paper on artificial cells (Chang 1966 TASAIO), and later an invited monograph on artificial cells (Chang 1972).
The first artificial cell was in the form of artificial red blood cells, one of the most important cells because our organs, tissues and cells need it for survival. He then innovated this resulting in artificial cells of unlimited configurations and contents. These were cell-sized compartments made from artificial materials. These artificial cells consisted of ultrathin membranes of polymer, crosslinked protein, protein-lipid, or lipid whose semipermeable properties allowed diffusion of small molecules in and out of the cell. The cells were micron-sized, but could be much larger (macro) or much smaller (nano) and contained cells, enzymes, hemoglobin, magnetic materials, vaccine, adsorbents and other materials.
Artificial cells can now be prepared with extensive variations in terms of their contents, membranes, dimensions, and configurations. This allows for an array of promising and innovative medical applications. Notable developments in artificial red blood cells include hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers and oxygen carriers with antioxidant properties or those with CO2 transport and antioxidant properties. Other notable innovative applications of artificial cells encompass hemoperfusion, delivery systems, COVID-19 vaccines, cancer therapy, hereditary enzyme defects, cell/stem cell therapy, microbes and nanorobotics. The possibilities extend beyond these, encompassing nanomedicine, biotherapeutics, gene therapy, regenerative medicine, agricultural applications, aquatic culture, fermentation and the field of nanorobotics.
You are welcome to visit this website for more details ranging from a general perspective all the way to detailed descriptions for specialists.