Engineered cells have opened up a new avenue for scientists and engineers to achieve specialized biological functions. Nanomaterials, such as silicon nanowires and quantum dots, can establish tight interfaces with cells either extra-or intracellularly, and they have already been widely used to control cellular functions. The future exploration of nanomaterials in cellular engineering may reveal numerous opportunities in both fundamental bioelectric studies and clinic applications. In this review, we highlight several nanomaterials-enabled non-genetic approaches to fabricating engineered cells. First, we briefly review the latest progress in engineered or synthetic cells, such as protocells that create cell-like behaviors from nonliving building blocks, and cells made by genetic or chemical modifications. Next, we illustrate the need for non-genetic cellular engineering with semiconductors and present some examples where chemical synthesis yields complex morphology or functions needed for biointerfaces. We then provide discussions in detail about the semiconductor nanostructure-enabled neural, cardiac, and microbial modulations. We also suggest the need to integrate tissue engineering with semiconductor devices to carry out more complex functions. We end this review by providing our perspectives for future development in non-genetic cellular engineering.

Bio-integrated materials and devices can blur the interfaces between living and artificial systems. Microfluidics, bioelectronics, and engineered nanostructures, with close interactions with biology at the cellular or tissue levels, have already yielded a spectrum of new applications. Many new designs emerge, including of organ-on-a-chip systems, biodegradable implants, electroceutical devices, minimally invasive neuro-prosthetic tools, and soft robotics. In this review, we highlight a few recent advances of the fabrication and application of smart bio-hybrid systems, with a particular emphasis on the three-dimensional (3D) bio-integrated devices that mimic the 3D feature of tissue scaffolds. Moreover, neurons integrated with engineered nanostructures for wireless neuromodulation and dynamic neural output are briefly discussed. We also discuss the progress in the construction of cell-enabled soft robotics, where a tight coupling of the synthetic and biological parts is crucial for efficient function. Finally, we summarize the approaches for enhancing bio-integration with biomimetic microand nanostructures.