Fusing Artificial Cell Compartments and Lipid Domains Using Optical Traps: A Tool to Modulate Membrane Composition and Phase Behaviour

Abstract

New technologies for manipulating biomembranes have vast potential to aid the understanding of biological phenomena, and as tools to sculpt novel artificial cell architectures for synthetic biology. The manipulation and fusion of vesicles using optical traps is amongst the most promising due to the level of spatiotemporal control it affords. Herein, we conduct a suite of feasibility studies to show the potential of optical trapping technologies to (i) modulate the lipid composition of a vesicle by delivering new membrane material through fusion events and (ii) manipulate and controllably fuse coexisting membrane domains for the first time. We also outline some noteworthy morphologies and transitions that the vesicle undergoes during fusion, which gives us insight into the mechanisms at play. These results will guide future exploitation of laser-assisted membrane manipulation methods and feed into a technology roadmap for this emerging technology.

Activating mechanosensitive channels embedded in droplet interface bilayers using membrane asymmetry

“…Secondly, the ux we have observed is actuated purely by asymmetry in the lipid bilayer and could be patterned during network assembly, or tuned dynamically using optical tweezers as demonstrated recently using vesicles. 65,66 Furthermore, LPC ip-op could be used to build pre-dened ux patterns into the network, as ip-op to a symmetric bilayer should close the MscL channel. 48 The slow kinetics of this process 67 could be potentially altered if combined with LPC-chelators such as BSA that have been shown to deactivate MscL channels upon removal of LPC from the membrane.…”

Interfacing Living and Synthetic Cells as an Emerging Frontier in Synthetic Biology

“…[49] New optical trapping technologies have allowed the manipulation of cell-sized objects and assembly of userdefined biomimetic architectures. [68] Laser-based approaches for the spatial patterning of tissue-like materials with fine spatio-temporal resolution have also been elegantly demonstrated, [69] and there are growing synergies between electronic and living cellular systems. [70] Moreover,r apid developments in DNAn anotechnology [71] and protein engineering [72] will further expand the repertoire of building blocks which can be used to interface synthetic and living cells.…”

A New Take on Prion Protein Dynamics in Cellular Trafficking

“…On this note, recent developments in technology allow for a greater exploration of vesicle content, which could help shed light into unexplored pathways [ 155 ]. Not only that, but the ability to modulate the fusing of membrane through optical traps allows for manipulation of vesicle components, which can in turn affect trafficking and membrane dynamics, therefore being of great therapeutic significance [ 156 ]. Indeed, many researchers are focusing in countering PrP C conversion by disturbing its intracellular vesicular transport a means to combat TSE promotion and spreading [ 154 , 157 ], which can benefit immensely from such emerging technologies.…”