Michael Levin (Levin lab at Tufts) has done some interesting work in this area. The focus there is bioelectric (in the sense of ion channels and chemicals very similar to the ones used to cross synapses) intercellular communication in developmental (embryonic) and regenerative growth as well as cell-level 'intentionality'.

They've somewhat paralleled this work in transplanting cells from a tumor and using drugs that affect bioelectricity to 'force' those cells to not develop into a tumor. That work was done in African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis). If you've read about xenobots, that work comes from Levin's lab using (at least in the ones I've read about) epithelial cells from developing embryos (the name is a portmanteau, pretty obvious if you know the frog genus used).

If you're not familiar with his work, a number of his presentations have made their way onto YouTube. IMO worth a watch...