Genetically targeted chemical assembly

Cell type-specific interfaces within living animals will be invaluable for achieving communication with identifiable cells over the long term, enabling applications across many scientific and medical fields. However, biological tissues exhibit complex and dynamic organization properties that pose serious challenges for chronic cell-specific interfacing. A new technology, combining chemistry and molecular biology, has emerged to address this challenge: genetically targeted chemical assembly (GTCA), in which specific cells are genetically programmed (even in wild-type or non-transgenic animals, including mammals) to chemically construct non-biological structures. Here, we discuss recent progress in genetically targeted construction of materials and outline opportunities that may expand the GTCA toolbox, including specific chemical processes involving novel monomers, catalysts and reaction regimes both de cellula (from the cell) and ad cellula (towards the cell); different GTCA-compatible reaction conditions with a focus on light-based patterning; and potential applications of GTCA in research and clinical settings.