Self-Decorating Cells Via Surface-Initiated Enzymatic Controlled Radical Polymerizations

Innovatively utilizing surface-displayed horseradish peroxidase, this paper explores the enzymatic catalysis of both bioRAFT polymerization and bioATRP to prompt polymer synthesis on the surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, with bioATRP outperforming bioRAFT polymerization. The resulting surface modification of living yeast cells with synthetic polymers allows for a significant alternation of yeast phenotype, including growth profile, aggregation characteristics, and conjugation of non-native enzymes to the clickable polymers on the cell surface, opening new avenues in bioorthogonal cell-surface engineering.