Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Samuel Pearce, Juan Perez-Mercader
Summary: By integrating various chemical processes, simplification of PISA process and routes to complexity and adaptation in chemical systems can be achieved.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Masayuki Imai, Yuka Sakuma, Minoru Kurisu, Peter Walde
Summary: Living systems are unique compared to ordinary condensed matter systems, as they involve molecular compartments that undergo self-replication through chemical transformations based on encoded instructions. The origin of life is believed to have begun as prebiotic soft matter systems, such as protocells and minimal cells. Understanding the transformation from protocells to living systems is a complex challenge that requires interdisciplinary efforts.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jorik Waeterschoot, Willemien Gossele, Hojjat Alizadeh Zeinabad, Jeroen Lammertyn, Erin Koos, Xavier Casadevall Solvas
Summary: This study presents a novel method for the production of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Fluorinated silica nanoparticles (FNPs) are used to stabilize a lipid-containing aqueous droplet in a fluorinated oil, allowing the formation of GUVs. The encapsulated lipids can be released in an outer aqueous medium by a simple centrifugation process. The study demonstrates that this technique can produce contaminant-free GUVs comparable to those produced via electroformation, and it also shows the potential for incorporating transmembrane proteins.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chiho Kataoka-Hamai, Kohsaku Kawakami
Summary: The study investigated the adsorption of phase-separated GUVs on glass, revealing that both liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered domains are reorganized to stabilize the curved bilayer region in adsorbed GUVs.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sarah Wehrum, Lina Siukstaite, Daniel J. Williamson, Thomas R. Branson, Taras Sych, Josef Madl, Gemma C. Wildsmith, Wenyue Dai, Erik Kempmann, James F. Ross, Maren Thomsen, Michael E. Webb, Winfried Roemer, W. Bruce Turnbull
Summary: This study reports a novel fusogenic lectin complex that arises from changes in protein architecture, providing new insights into lipid-driven fusion mechanisms. The complex can induce hemifusion and fusion, demonstrated by mixing of fluorescently labeled lipids between vesicles and content mixing of liposomes filled with fluorescently labeled dextran. Furthermore, the complex can form hemifusion diaphragms at vesicle-vesicle interfaces.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luisa Zartner, Martina Garni, Ioana Craciun, Tomaz Einfalt, Cornelia G. Palivan
Summary: The authors utilized giant plasma membrane vesicles (GPMVs) as a platform to study the transfer of nanoparticles, identifying molecular factors and distribution patterns. Results showed successful transfer of carboxylated polystyrene particles of different sizes into GPMVs derived from various cell lines. This study paves the way for GPMV usage in medically relevant applications.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Oskar Staufer, Silvia Antona, Dennis Zhang, Julia Csatari, Martin Schroter, Jan-Willi Janiesch, Sebastian Fabritz, Imre Berger, Ilia Platzman, Joachim P. Spatz
Summary: Researchers have developed a microfluidic-based mechanical droplet-splitting pipeline for the production of carrier-GUVs with diameters of around 2 μm, allowing for efficient cargo loading and precise control over the properties of GUV membranes. By investigating GUV-cell interactions, they achieved targeted cellular GUV delivery and explored strategies for intracellular GUV cargo release through lysosomal escape. This delivery technology could lead to more efficient drug administration and enable targeted delivery of advanced cargo like microparticles, viruses, or macromolecular DNA-robots.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Christopher S. Jennings, Jeremy S. Rossman, Braeden A. Hourihan, Ross J. Marshall, Ross S. Forgan, Barry A. Blight
Summary: Lipid bilayer vesicles can be immobilized using zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks, allowing them to stay in position for minutes to hours, which is crucial for studying cell function and fundamental properties.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mohammad Abu Sayem Karal, Tawfika Nasrin, Marzuk Ahmed, Md. Kabir Ahamed, Shareef Ahammed, Salma Akter, Sharif Hasan, Zaid Bin Mahbub
Summary: A new purification technique using dual filtration was developed to obtain giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) within specific size ranges, resulting in narrower size distributions compared to single filtration. This technique successfully removed water-soluble fluorescent probes from GUV suspensions and further purification steps led to even narrower size distributions. Dual filtration also allowed for obtaining two different size distributions of GUVs simultaneously, suggesting the ease of obtaining size-specific distributions using this method.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Marcus Fletcher, Jinbo Zhu, Roger Rubio-Sanchez, Sarah E. Sandler, Kareem Al Nahas, Lorenzo Di Michele, Ulrich F. Keyser, Ran Tivony
Summary: Accurate measurement of ion permeability through cellular membranes has been a challenge due to the lack of suitable ion-selective probes. Researchers have used giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) as membrane models and a DNA-based sensor to visualize and measure ion transport. The study found that the permeability coefficients of potassium ions were at least one order of magnitude larger than previously reported values, and the presence of octanol increased the permeation rates across lipid bilayers.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adriano Caliari, Martin M. Hanczyc, Masayuki Imai, Jian Xu, Tetsuya Yomo
Summary: Artificial cells are being used to engineer cell-mimicking structures, with giant unilamellar vesicle fusion being a crucial step. Several techniques have been developed to accomplish this, but automation of fusion detection and characterization is now necessary for high-throughput screenings. We implemented a fusion assay based on fluorophore colocalization to assess lipid and content transfer in vesicles.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lauren F. Bailey, Jayachandran Vavolil Prabhakaran, Vinod Kumar Vishwapathi, Chandrashekhar Kulkarni
Summary: The electroformation technique is developed to prepare particulate emulsions using nonlamellar lipid phases, offering high hydrophobic volumes and enhanced loading of payloads. The method is applicable for drug delivery, especially for delicate biomolecules and certain drugs prone to decomposition or denaturation. This gentle method shows potential for noninvasive delivery.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Remy Cochereau, Viviana Maffeis, Elena C. dos Santos, Emanuel Lortscher, Cornelia G. Palivan
Summary: The production, stability, and membrane diffusion properties of polymer GUVs are greatly improved by the introduction of DNA-origami nanopores (DoNs), leading to high control over these essential properties. The DoN-GUVs produced by microfluidics exhibit narrow size distribution, high encapsulation efficiency, and long-term stability, enabling the tuning of molecular transport rates and the investigation of cellular processes and signaling.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Rogerio Lopes dos Santos, Michel Malo, Clement Campillo
Summary: Deciphering the physical mechanisms underlying cell shape changes is crucial for understanding biological processes. The reconstruction of cytoskeletal dynamics in vitro has the potential to mimic cell functions and may lead to the development of self-moving protocells.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Masamune Morita, Naohiro Noda
Summary: This study investigates the physical properties of giant unilamellar vesicles prepared by inverted emulsion and hydration techniques, revealing differences in membrane shape dynamics such as spontaneous curvature, preferred differential area between inner and outer leaflets, and edge tension of membrane pores. The comparison highlights the need to consider the generation technique when studying artificial cell-like model systems.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Boyu Yang, Shubin Li, Wei Mu, Zhao Wang, Xiaojun Han
Summary: Bottom-up constructed artificial cells provide valuable insights into cell working mechanism and evolution of organisms. Energy supply and metabolism mimicry are key challenges in the field of artificial cells. In this study, an artificial cell containing cyanobacteria capable of light harvesting and carbon dioxide fixation is demonstrated to produce glucose molecules by converting light energy into chemical energy. Two downstream metabolic pathways starting from glucose molecules are investigated, offering potential for studying more complex energy-supplied metabolism inside artificial cells.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ning Gao, Stephen Mann
Summary: Complex coacervate microdroplets derived from associative phase separation have shown great potential in constructing membraneless protocells. However, the lack of an enclosing membrane limits their functionality. In this Account, we present chemical strategies for the membranization of coacervate microdroplets and discuss their potential applications as functional materials. We hope that this Account will inspire further research and development in this field.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qi-Zhi Zhong, Joseph J. J. Richardson, Yuan Tian, Haijiang Tian, Jiwei Cui, Stephen Mann, Frank Caruso
Summary: Metal-quinone networks (MQNs) have been developed as structurally tunable, universally adhesive, hydrophilic, and pH-degradable materials by coordinating metal ions with quinones through metal-acetylacetone coordination bonds. MQNs exhibit bidirectional pH-responsive disassembly and can be assembled into various forms such as particles, tubes, capsules, and films. Leveraging the tunable release ability of MQNs and the medicinal properties of quinones, MQN prodrugs with high drug loading are engineered for anti-cancer therapy and inhibition of the main protease in the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Omar Rifaie-Graham, Jonathan Yeow, Adrian Najer, Richard Wang, Rujie Sun, Kun Zhou, Tristan N. Dell, Christopher Adrianus, Chalaisorn Thanapongpibul, Mohamed Chami, Stephen Mann, Javier Read de Alaniz, Molly M. Stevens
Summary: This study describes a non-equilibrium nanosystem that utilizes light-gated chemical communication, controllable feedback, and macroscopic oscillations. The system allows for communication between nanoreactors and induces chemical mechanical oscillations in a hydrogel using feedback loops.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ying Chen, Feng Wei, Wei Mu, Xiaojun Han
Summary: Edible films with different concentrations of eugenol/gelatin microspheres were developed to enhance their antimicrobial properties. The optimum composite films showed compact structure, low water vapor permeability, and low solubility. Eugenol provided the edible films with effective antioxidant and antibacterial activities against E. coli and S. aureus. The prepared films can be used for food packaging applications, allowing the storage of apple cubes at room temperature for 7 days at 50% humidity.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ali Heidari, Oya I. I. Sentuerk, Shuo Yang, Alex Joesaar, Pierangelo Gobbo, Stephen Mann, Tom F. A. de Greef, Seraphine V. V. Wegner
Summary: The authors developed a method to control the communication between sender-receiver pairs in a synthetic cell community through red and blue light illumination. They used photoswitchable membrane adhesion to self-assemble sender and receiver cells into different multicellular structures under red and blue light, allowing specific communication without interference. This work demonstrates the potential for designing orthogonal chemical communication networks in diverse synthetic cell communities.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hannah Taylor, Ning Gao, Stephen Mann
Summary: We fabricate Janus-like calcium alginate hydrogel microspheres with spatially segregated populations using microfluidics. These microspheres serve as integrated platforms for domain-mediated chemical communication and programmable protocell-matrix dynamics. Our results offer new possibilities for the design and construction of spatially organized cytomimetic consortia capable of endogenous chemical processing and protocell-environment interactivity.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Chang Zhang, Chao Li, Xiaojun Han
Summary: Heavy metal pollution is a global environmental issue. In this study, a screen printed electrode modified with bismuth powder (Bi-SPE) was prepared for the detection of Cd2+. The Bi-SPE exhibited a linear detection range of 5-50 μg/L and a detection limit of 4.80 μg/L for Cd2+. Compared to the bare screen printed electrode, Bi-SPE showed better detection performance by providing more active sites for heavy metal ion predeposition. The advantage of Bi-SPE is its ability to detect heavy metal ions without the addition of bismuth ions in the solution, enabling in-situ detection. The prepared Bi-SPE holds great potential for the detection of heavy metal ions in real water samples.
JOURNAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yanwen Zhang, Zefeng Wang, Mei Li, Can Xu, Ning Gao, Zhuping Yin, Kemin Wang, Stephen Mann, Jianbo Liu
Summary: The design and construction of synthetic protocells capable of stimuli response and homeostatic regulation is an important challenge for synthetic protobiology. In this study, we demonstrate a reconfigurable model protocell based on osmotic reconfiguration of lipid-coated coacervate droplets into multicompartmentalized coacervate vesicles that can exhibit hypotonic stress-induced volume response and enhance enzyme reactions. The increased nitric oxide (NO) within the swollen vesicles can induce blood vessel vasodilation, showing potential applications in biomedicine, cellular diagnostics, and bioengineering.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chengying Yin, Xingyu Jiang, Stephen Mann, Liangfei Tian, Bruce W. Drinkwater
Summary: The high throughput deposition of microscale objects with precise spatial arrangement is crucial in microfabrication technology. The utilization of dynamic acoustic fields offers a contactless approach to real-time reconfigurable miniaturized systems, with potential applications in various fields. This article discusses the physical interactions of microscale objects in an acoustic pressure field, the fabrication of acoustic trapping devices, methods to tune the spatial arrangement, and potential applications in different disciplines.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhijun Xu, Jiarui Qi, Shengliang Wang, Xiaoman Liu, Mei Li, Stephen Mann, Xin Huang
Summary: The researchers achieved sustainable hydrogen production for over 200 days by coating algal cells with an ultra-thin Fe(III)-doped polypyrrole inner layer and an outer exoskeleton of CaCO3. This cellular bionic approach enhances green hydrogen production under environmentally benign conditions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Changchang Dong, Minghui Li, Xiaojun Han
Summary: La2O3@C catalystswith excellent nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) performance were synthesized via pyrolysis of La-citrate nanosheets. The multiple oxide states of lanthanide metal make it a promising catalyst for electrochemical ammonia synthesis. Ln(2)O(3)@C (Ln = La, Er, Tb, and Eu) nanosheets were prepared by calcinating Ln-citrate nanosheets under a N-2 atmosphere. La2O3@C nanosheets displayed high charger transfer ability, chemical active surface, and N-2 adsorption capacity. La2O3@C nanosheets showed outstanding electrocatalytic NRR performance with an NH3 production rate of 20.59 μg/h·mg and faradaic efficiency of 17.10%. Eu2O3@C, Tb2O3@C, and Er2O3@C nanosheets with excellent electrocatalytic performance were also synthesized. This study provides a method for fabricating metal oxide nanosheets for electrochemical nitrogen fixation.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhuping Yin, Ning Gao, Can Xu, Mei Li, Stephen Mann
Summary: This article describes a self-driven, endosymbiotic-like pathway where proteinosomes are captured within membranized alginate/silk fibroin coacervate vesicles by guest-mediated reconfiguration. The interchange of coacervate vesicle and droplet morphologies through proteinosome-mediated activity produces discrete nested communities with integrated catalytic activity and selective disintegration.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Feng Wei, Haidong Xing, Ziyuan Xiu, Jiadong Li, Defeng Xing, Xiaojun Han
Summary: Simultaneous water purification of multiple hazardous pollutants assisted by photocatalysis technology is an environmentally friendly and energy-smart strategy. In this study, a Z-scheme heterojunction of TiO2-Au@CN nanofibers was constructed, which showed excellent photocatalytic performance for inactivation of E.coli and removal of RhB under simulated solar light irradiation. The promoted photocatalytic performance was attributed to the Z-scheme electron transfer mechanism at the interface of the heterojunction assisted by AuNPs as an electron mediator. The constructed Z-scheme heterojunction with efficient light utilization showed great potential in practical water purification under sunlight.
MATERIALS RESEARCH BULLETIN
(2023)
Review
Biophysics
Hyun Park, Weichen Wang, Seo Hyeon Min, Yongshuo Ren, Kwanwoo Shin, Xiaojun Han
Summary: Sustainable energy conversion modules are the main challenges for building complex reaction cascades in artificial cells. By mimicking the core structures for energy conversion in living cells, artificial organelles are expected to become powerful tools for achieving complex cascading reactions in artificial cells.
BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS
(2023)
