Artificial cells are constructed to imitate natural cells and allow researchers to explore biological process and the origin of life. The construction methods for artificial cells, through both top-down or bottom-up approaches, have achieved great progress over the past decades. Here we present a comprehensive overview on the development of artificial cells and their properties and applications. Artificial cells are derived from lipids, polymers, lipid/polymer hybrids, natural cell membranes, colloidosome, metal−organic frameworks and coacervates. They can be endowed with various functions through the incorporation of proteins and genes on the cell surface or encapsulated inside of the cells. These modulations determine the properties of artificial cells, including producing energy, cell growth, morphology change, division, transmembrane transport, environmental response, motility and chemotaxis. Multiple applications of these artificial cells are discussed here with a focus on therapeutic applications. Artificial cells are used as carriers for materials and information exchange and have been shown to function as targeted delivery systems of personalized drugs. Additionally, artificial cells can function to substitute for cells with impaired function. Enzyme therapy and immunotherapy using artificial cells have been an intense focus of research. Finally, prospects of future development of cell-mimic properties and broader applications are highlighted.

Drug‐coated balloons (DCB) intervention is an important approach for the treatment of atherosclerosis (AS). However, this therapeutic approach has the drawbacks of poor drug retention and penetration at the lesion site. Here, a lipophilic drug‐loaded nanomotor as a modified balloon coating for the treatment of AS is reported. First, a lipophilic nanomotor PMA‐TPP/PTX loaded with drug PTX and lipophilic triphenylphosphine (TPP) compounds is synthesized. The PMA‐TPP/PTX nanomotors use nitric oxide (NO) as the driving force, which is produced from the reaction between arginine on the motor substrate and excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the AS microenvironment. The final in vitro and in vivo experimental results confirm that the introduction of the lipophilic drug‐loaded nanomotor technology can greatly enhance the drug retention and permeability in atherosclerotic lesions. In particular, NO can also play an anti‐AS role in improving endothelial cell function and reducing oxidative stress. The chemotherapeutic drug PTX loaded onto the nanomotors can inhibit cell division and proliferation, thereby exerting the effect of inhibiting vascular intimal hyperplasia, which is helpful for the multiple therapies of AS. Using nanomotor technology to solve cardiovascular diseases may be a promising research direction.

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are metal–organic analogues of zeolites that have attracted considerable interest for gas separation applications. However, the inherent framework flexibility of ZIFs during gas adsorption complicates their designed and desired performance. Herein, we report functionality-induced locking of ZIFs undergoing irreversible structural transformations, which leads to exceptional framework rigidity. Specifically, an isoreticular series of zeolite GME-type CoII-ZIFs were prepared and proven to have dynamic, flexible, and rigid behaviors after thermal activation, depending on their functional groups (i.e., −H, −CH3, and −NO2). Molecular insights into the irreversible, functionality-induced locking were determined to occur as a consequence of framework flexibility for maximizing the linker–linker interactions from π–π interaction to hydrogen bonding. The practical impact of functionality-induced locking in ZIFs was evaluated through high-pressure CO2/CH4 adsorptive separation for realizing more efficient methane purification. The present findings shed light on the deliberate control over the inherent flexibility observed in many porous materials to optimize their performance in practical applications.

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