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Feng Zhang discusses the expanding gene-editing toolkit, the need for better delivery systems and the reprogrammable biological technologies that remain to be discovered.
The design of cell-based therapeutics with synthetic biology is a rapidly growing strategy in medicine for the development of effective treatments for a variety of diseases. This article discusses advances in synthetic biology approaches to programme living cells with therapeutic functions as well as challenges for their development.
Cancer, hepatotoxicity, haematological and neurotoxicity concerns cause experts to call for more transparency and better manufacturing standards for AAV-based candidates.