Designer artificial membrane binding proteins to direct stem cells to the myocardium.

We present a new cell membrane modification methodology where the inherent heart tissue homing properties of the infectious bacteria are transferred to human stem cells. This is achieved the rational design of a chimeric protein-polymer surfactant cell membrane binding construct, comprising the cardiac fibronectin (Fn) binding domain of the bacterial adhesin protein CshA fused to a supercharged protein. Significantly, the protein-polymer surfactant hybrid spontaneously inserts into the plasma membrane of stem cells without cytotoxicity, instilling the cells with a high affinity for immobilized fibronectin.