Chemical-biological approaches for the direct regulation of cell-cell aggregation

Cell-cell aggregation is one of the most well-known modes of intercellular communication. The aggregation also plays a vital role in the formation of multicellularity, thus manipulating the growth and development of organisms. In the past decades, cell-cell aggregation-related bioprocesses and molecular mechanisms have attracted enormous interest from scientists in biology, and bioengineering. People have developed a series of strategies to artificially regulate cell-cell aggregation through chemical-biological approaches. To date, not only the chemical reagents such as coordination compounds and polymers but also the biomacromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids, are employed as the cell glue to achieve the control of the cell aggregation. So it is meaningful to review the recent advances of the chemical-biological approaches in cell-cell aggregation manipulation. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms and features of recently developed strategies to control cell-cell aggregation. We introduce molecules and designs relying on chemical reactions and biological conjugations respectively, and talk about their advantages and suitable applications. A perspective on the challenges in future applications in cell manipulation and cell-based therapy is also proposed. We expect this review could inspire innovative work on manipulating cell-cell aggregation and further modulate cell-cell interactions in the research of bio/chemical fields.

Automated summary

Cell-cell aggregation is a well-known mode of intercellular communication that plays a vital role in multicellularity and organism development. In recent decades, scientists in biology and bioengineering have shown great interest in understanding the bioprocesses and molecular mechanisms related to cell-cell aggregation. They have developed various strategies to artificially regulate cell-cell aggregation using chemical-biological approaches. This review discusses the recent advances in manipulating cell-cell aggregation, including the use of chemical reactions and biological conjugations, and explores their advantages and potential applications. Additionally, the challenges and future perspectives for cell manipulation and cell-based therapy are proposed. This review aims to inspire innovative work in the field of cell-cell aggregation manipulation and cell-cell interactions in bio/chemical research.