In Situ Synthesis of Multifunctional 3D Polymeric Artificial Organelles in Living Cells

Artificial organelles have been developed to restore dysfunction or to introduce new-to-nature functions to the host cells, although limitations, such as instability, still exist. Here, we develop a new strategy to fabricate structurally stable polymeric "artificial organelles" by in situ crosslinking of multibranched monomers intracellularly using bioorthogonal click chemistry. The fabricated artificial organelles bearing bioorthogonal reactive centers allow for functional molecule conjugation and cargo release, enabling effective cell modification and manipulation. This demonstration opens up a multitude of new possibilities for empowering cells with new functions that surpass or complement their intrinsic capabilities.