Synthetic biology strategies towards the development of new bioinspired technologies for medical applications

Abstract

Synthetic biology in combination with systems biology uses engineering principles to leverage the power of biology. The impact and potential of systems and synthetic biology in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases are growing. In this chapter, we will revise some of the tools, methods and applications within these fields that can be useful in biomedical engineering and human health, such as genome editing and the development of quorum sensing mechanisms, among others. We will discuss remarkable advances made, for example, in vaccine development, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and infectious diseases, microbiome engineering and cell therapy. Lastly, the challenges and perspectives of these fields will be debated.