Lipid nanotube networks: Biomimetic Cell-to-Cell Communication and Soft-Matter Technology

Abstract

The exchange of information on the molecular level is a vital task in metazoan organisms. Communication between biological cells occurs through chemical or electrical signals in order to initiate, regulate and coordinate diverse physiological functions of an organism [1]. Typical chemical modes of signaling and communication are cell-to-cell interaction in the form of release of small molecules by one, and receptor-controlled uptake by another cell, also transport of molecules through gap-junctions [2], and transport via exosome carriers [3].