RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Artificial cells drive neural differentiation JF Science Advances JO Sci Adv FD American Association for the Advancement of Science SP eabb4920 DO 10.1126/sciadv.abb4920 VO 6 IS 38 A1 Toparlak, Ö. Duhan A1 Zasso, Jacopo A1 Bridi, Simone A1 Serra, Mauro Dalla A1 Macchi, Paolo A1 Conti, Luciano A1 Baudet, Marie-Laure A1 Mansy, Sheref S. YR 2020 UL http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/38/eabb4920.abstract AB We report the construction of artificial cells that chemically communicate with mammalian cells under physiological conditions. The artificial cells respond to the presence of a small molecule in the environment by synthesizing and releasing a potent protein signal, brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Genetically controlled artificial cells communicate with engineered human embryonic kidney cells and murine neural stem cells. The data suggest that artificial cells are a versatile chassis for the in situ synthesis and on-demand release of chemical signals that elicit desired phenotypic changes of eukaryotic cells, including neuronal differentiation. In the future, artificial cells could be engineered to go beyond the capabilities of typical smart drug delivery vehicles by synthesizing and delivering specific therapeutic molecules tailored to distinct physiological conditions.