Hydrogel‐Immobilized Coacervate Droplets as Modular Microreactor Assemblies

Liu, Jianbo; Tian, Liangfei; Qiao, Yan; Zhou, Shaohong; Patil, Avinash J.; Wang, Kemin; Li, Mei; Mann, Stephen

doi:10.1002/ange.201916481

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 29 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…1,2 Protocells can be assembled from lipids (vesicles), 3 amphiphilic block copolymers (polymersomes), 4,5 inorganic nanoparticles (colloidosomes), 6,7 protein-polymer nano-conjugates (proteinosomes), 8,9 and polyelectrolytes undergoing liquidliquid microphase separation (coacervation). [10][11][12][13][14][15] Amongst these possibilities, lipid vesicles have been used extensively for studying membrane transport, 16 macromolecular loading, 17 DNA transcription, 18 protein expression, 19 molecular signaling 20 and the origin of life. 21 Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are often employed as a cytomimetic model system due to the ease of tailoring the composition and structure of their phospholipid bilayer membrane as well as their size, shape, growth, fusion and attendant mechanical/chemical properties.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Giant Coacervate Vesicles As an Integrated Approach to Cytomimetic Modeling

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) have been extensively studied as synthetic cell-like microcompartments, their applicability as cytomimetic models is severely compromised by low levels of membrane permeability, low encapsulation efficiencies and high physicochemical instability. Here, we develop an integrated cytomimetic model comprising a macromolecularly crowded interior with high sequestration efficiency and enclosed within a phospholipid membrane that is permeable to molecules below a molecular weight cut-off of ca. 4 kDa. The protocells are readily prepared by spontaneous assembly of a phospholipid membrane on the surface of preformed polynucleotide/polysaccharide coacervate micro-droplets and are designated as giant coacervate vesicles (GCVs). Partial anchoring of the GCV membrane to the underlying coacervate phase results in increased robustness, lower membrane fluidity and increased permeability compared with GUV counterparts. As a consequence, enzyme and ribozyme catalysis can be triggered in the molecularly crowded interior of the GCV but not inside the GUVs when small molecule substrates or inducers are present in the external environment. By integrating processes of membrane-mediated compartmentalization and liquid-liquid microphase separation, GCVs could offer substantial advantages as cytomimetic models, synthetic protocells and artificial biomolecular microreactors. ASSOCIATED CONTENT Supporting Information.The Supporting Information is available free of charge via the Internet at http://pubs.acs.org.Further experimental details, methods, and figures.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Giant Coacervate Vesicles As an Integrated Approach to Cytomimetic Modeling

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Mechanically more stable structures can be formed if protocells are embedded in a hydrogel matrix and optionally covalently linked to it. If loaded with appropriate reagents these protocell ensembles can conduct cascade reactions [108]. By analogy, lipid coated aqueous drops have been embedded into hydrogels to use them as light sensors [109].…”

Section: Ensembles Of Compartmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From vesicles to materials: bioinspired strategies for fabricating hierarchically structured soft matter

Amstad

Harrington

2021

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Certain organisms including species of mollusks, polychaetes, onychophorans and arthropods produce exceptional polymeric materials outside their bodies under ambient conditions using concentrated fluid protein precursors. While much is understood about the structure-function relationships that define the properties of such materials, comparatively less is understood about how such materials are fabricated and specifically, how their defining hierarchical structures are achieved via bottom-up assembly. Yet this information holds great potential for inspiring sustainable manufacture of advanced polymeric materials with controlled multi-scale structure. In the present perspective, we first examine recent work elucidating the formation of the tough adhesive fibres of the mussel byssus via secretion of vesicles filled with condensed liquid protein phases (coacervates and liquid crystals)—highlighting which design principles are relevant for bio-inspiration. In the second part of the perspective, we examine the potential of recent advances in drops and additive manufacturing as a bioinspired platform for mimicking such processes to produce hierarchically structured materials. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Bio-derived and bioinspired sustainable advanced materials for emerging technologies (part 1)’.

show abstract

“…23 Meanwhile, various cellular functionalities have been demonstrated in the biomimetic models, including in vitro gene expression, 24 enhanced enzyme and RNA catalysis, 25 and chemical signaling. [26][27][28] However, very few models have been evaluated in living cells to assess their in situ cellular functionality. Cellular functionality of such artificial organelles is a crucial factor that is necessary to demonstrate that the concept of artificial organelles is feasible in living organisms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%