[adimed]

The primitive regular clinical utilization of artificial cells was in the form of coated and activated charcoal to perform hemoperfusion (a medical procedure that was carried out in order to remove the toxic substance from the blood of the patient).The artificial cells were initially developed by a scientist named Thomas Chang at the University of McGill during 1960s. These initial artificial cells were composed of very thin membranes of collodion, nylon or proteins (cross linked) and the semi-permeable nature of the membrane facilitated the diffusion of tiny molecules in and out of the artificial cell. The first artificial cells were of micron size and enclosed within them were enzymes, proteins, magnetic materials, adsorbants, and haemoglobin. Currently the dimensions of the artificial cells range from micro to nanometer and also carry vaccines, microorganisms, drugs, peptides, hormones and genes.

In order to serve the purpose for biotechnological and medical applications, the artificial cells are created in the laboratories. Presently, encapsulated cell implantation has been investigated for treating the ailments such as liver failure, diabetes and also utilization of genetically engineered encapsulated cells for gene therapy. A recent study discovered that artificial cells containing genetically engineered microorganisms administered daily orally to uremic rats lowered high levels of urea to the normal and resulted in increased survival of the rats. Modified haemoglobin as substitutes for blood are in phase clinical trials as of now. Artificial cells that contain necessary enzymes are also in phase of development for clinical trials for making up hereditary enzyme deficiencies and various other diseases. Artificial cells are also being studied in order to carry out drug delivery and for other utilization's in medicine, biotechnology and chemical engineering. Current approaches in molecular biology, biotechnology, polymer chemistry and nanotechnology are now creating added potential to this field in spite of various obstacles for regular clinical use.