Light‐Gated Synthetic Protocells for Plasmon‐Enhanced Chemiosmotic Gradient Generation and ATP Synthesis

Abstract

Herein, we present a light‐gated protocell model made of plasmonic colloidal capsules (CCs) assembled with bacteriorhodopsin for converting solar energy into electrochemical gradients to drive the synthesis of energy‐storage molecules. This synthetic protocell incorporated an important intrinsic property of noble metal colloidal particles, namely, plasmonic resonance. In particular, the near‐field coupling between adjacent metal nanoparticles gave rise to strongly localized electric fields and resulted in a broad absorption in the whole visible spectra, which in turn promoted the flux of photons to bacteriorhodopsin and accelerated the proton pumping kinetics. The cell‐like potential of this design was further demonstrated by leveraging the outward pumped protons as “chemical signals” for triggering ATP biosynthesis in a coexistent synthetic protocell population. Hereby, we lay the ground work for the engineering of colloidal supraparticle‐based synthetic protocells with higher‐order functionalities.

Interface Engineering in Multiphase Systems toward Synthetic Cells and Organelles: From Soft Matter Fundamentals to Biomedical Applications

“…[348][349][350] Recently, light-driven ATP synthesis has been showcased by bRcoated plasmonic colloidosomes made from Au-Ag nanorods and a ATPase-embedded lipid vesicle, where bR-coated colloidosome generates a proton gradient upon light, and triggering the ATP production in the nearby lipid vesicle. [359] Chemically driven ATP regeneration module not only provides ATP, but also could potentially couple with other processes in the respiratory chain, enabling sustainability (Figure 18a,c). [59,60] In aerobic cells, a series of respiratory chain complexes are involved in electron transfer, for instance, terminal oxidases can catalyze the reduction of water in presence of cytochrome c, creating a proton gradient across the membrane.…”

“…[ 348–350 ] Recently, light‐driven ATP synthesis has been showcased by bR‐coated plasmonic colloidosomes made from Au–Ag nanorods and a ATPase‐embedded lipid vesicle, where bR‐coated colloidosome generates a proton gradient upon light, and triggering the ATP production in the nearby lipid vesicle. [ 359 ]…”

Robust Synthesis of Gold‐Based Multishell Structures as Plasmonic Catalysts for Selective Hydrogenation of 4‐Nitrostyrene

“…Plasmonic catalysis has emerged as effective routes to accelerate chemical reactions under mild and environmentally friendly conditions . As one of excellent plasmonic catalysts, Au materials can not only catalyze a series of organic reactions, but also harvest and utilize visible light energy to promote these reactions . Constructing multishell structures of Au may further increase their plasmonic catalytic activity, since the porous multiple shells can provide larger specific surface area, enable molecules to access to the interior of structures, and increase light‐harvesting …”

Robust Synthesis of Gold‐Based Multishell Structures as Plasmonic Catalysts for Selective Hydrogenation of 4‐Nitrostyrene

“…However, the greatly reduced activity was also observed in these modified catalysts owing to the influence of modifier . Plasmonic catalysis has emerged as effective routes to accelerate chemical reactions under mild and environmentally friendly conditions . As one of excellent plasmonic catalysts, Au materials can not only catalyze a series of organic reactions, but also harvest and utilize visible light energy to promote these reactions .…”