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Hann SD, Stebe KJ, Lee D. All-Aqueous Assemblies via Interfacial Complexation: Toward Artificial Cell and Microniche Development. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:10107-10117. [PMID: 28882042 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b02237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In nature, the environment surrounding biomolecules and living cells can dictate their structure, function, and properties. Confinement is a key means to define and regulate such environments. For example, the confinement of appropriate constituents in compartments facilitates the assembly, dynamics, and function of biochemical machineries as well as subcellular organelles. Membraneless organelles, in particular, are thought to form via thermodynamic cues defined within the interior space of cells. On larger length scales, the confinement of living cells dictates cellular function for both mammalian and bacterial cells. One promising class of artificial structures that can recapitulate these multiscale confinement effects is based on aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs). This feature article highlights recent developments in the production and stabilization of ATPS-droplet-based systems, with a focus on interfacial complexation. These systems enable structure formation, modulation, and triggered (dis)assembly, thereby allowing structures to be tailored to fit the desired function and designed for particular confinement studies. Open issues for both synthetic cells and niche studies are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah D Hann
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Kathleen J Stebe
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Daeyeon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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Hann SD, Stebe KJ, Lee D. AWE-somes: All Water Emulsion Bodies with Permeable Shells and Selective Compartments. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2017; 9:25023-25028. [PMID: 28665113 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b05800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Living cells exploit compartmentalization within organelles to spatially and temporally control reactions and pathways. Here, we use the all aqueous two phase system (ATPS) of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and dextran to develop all water emulsion bodies, AWE-somes, a new class of encapsulated double emulsions as potential cell mimics. AWE-somes feature rigid polyelectrolyte (PE)/nanoparticle (NP) shells and double emulsion interiors. The shells form via complexation of PE and NP at interfaces of ATPS. The NPs, excluded from the drop phase, create an osmotic stress imbalance that removes water from the encapsulated phase and draws droplets of external PEG phase into the shells to form the double emulsion interior. We demonstrate that molecules can permeate the AWE-some shells, selectively partition into the internal droplets, and undergo reaction. AWE-somes have significant potential for creating functional, biocompatible protocell systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah D Hann
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Kathleen J Stebe
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Daeyeon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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Xue LH, Xie CY, Meng SX, Bai RX, Yang X, Wang Y, Wang S, Binks BP, Guo T, Meng T. Polymer-Protein Conjugate Particles with Biocatalytic Activity for Stabilization of Water-in-Water Emulsions. ACS Macro Lett 2017; 6:679-683. [PMID: 35650869 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.7b00294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Water-in-water (w/w) emulsions are attractive microcompartmentalized platforms due to their outstanding biocompatibility. To address the main disadvantage of poor stability that hampers their practical application, here we report a novel type of polymer-protein conjugate emulsifier obtained by Schiff base synthesis to stabilize w/w emulsions. In particular, the proposed mild approach benefits the modification of proteins of suitable size and wettability as particulate emulsifiers retaining their bioactivity. As demonstrated in a model system, the methoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG)-urease conjugate particles anchor at the w/w interfaces, where they serve as an effective emulsifier-combined-catalyst and catalyze the hydrolysis of urea in water to ammonium carbonate. Our study is unique in that it employs bioactive particles to stabilize w/w emulsions. Considering the characteristics of all-aqueous, compartmental and interfacial biocatalysis of the system, it will open up new possibilities in the life sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long-Hui Xue
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chun-Yan Xie
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shi-Xin Meng
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rui-Xue Bai
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin Yang
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaolei Wang
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shu Wang
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bernard P. Binks
- School
of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Ting Guo
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tao Meng
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
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Binks BP. Colloidal Particles at a Range of Fluid-Fluid Interfaces. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:6947-6963. [PMID: 28478672 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b00860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The study of solid particles residing at fluid-fluid interfaces has become an established area in surface and colloid science recently, experiencing a renaissance since around 2000. Particles at interfaces arise in many industrial products and processes such as antifoam formulations, crude oil emulsions, aerated foodstuffs, and flotation. Although they act in many ways like traditional surfactant molecules, they offer distinct advantages also, and the area is now multidisciplinary, involving research in the fundamental science and potential applications. In this Feature Article, the flavor of some of this interest is given on the basis of recent work from our own group and includes the behavior of particles at oil-water, air-water, oil-oil, air-oil, and water-water interfaces. The materials capable of being prepared by assembling various kinds of particles at fluid interfaces include particle-stabilized emulsions, particle-stabilized aqueous and oil foams, dry liquids, liquid marbles, and powdered emulsions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard P Binks
- School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Hull , Hull HU6 7RX, U.K
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Kaufman G, Mukhopadhyay S, Rokhlenko Y, Nejati S, Boltyanskiy R, Choo Y, Loewenberg M, Osuji CO. Highly stiff yet elastic microcapsules incorporating cellulose nanofibrils. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:2733-2737. [PMID: 28358160 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm00092h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Microcapsules with high mechanical stability and elasticity are desirable in a variety of contexts. We report a single-step method to fabricate such microcapsules by microfluidic interfacial complexation between high stiffness cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and an oil-soluble cationic random copolymer. Single-capsule compression measurements reveal an elastic modulus of 53 MPa for the CNF-based capsule shell with complete recovery of deformation from strains as large as 19%. We demonstrate the ability to manipulate the shell modulus by the use of polyacrylic acid (PAA) as a binder material, and observe a direct relationship between the shell modulus and the PAA concentration, with moduli as large as 0.5 GPa attained. These results demonstrate that CNF incorporation provides a facile route for producing strong yet flexible microcapsule shells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilad Kaufman
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
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He Y, Savagatrup S, Zarzar LD, Swager TM. Interfacial Polymerization on Dynamic Complex Colloids: Creating Stabilized Janus Droplets. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2017; 9:7804-7811. [PMID: 28198607 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b15791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Complex emulsions, including Janus droplets, are becoming increasingly important in pharmaceuticals and medical diagnostics, the fabrication of microcapsules for drug delivery, chemical sensing, E-paper display technologies, and optics. Because fluid Janus droplets are often sensitive to external perturbation, such as unexpected changes in the concentration of the surfactants or surface-active biomolecules in the environment, stabilizing their morphology is critical for many real-world applications. To endow Janus droplets with resistance to external chemical perturbations, we demonstrate a general and robust method of creating polymeric hemispherical shells via interfacial free-radical polymerization on the Janus droplets. The polymeric hemispherical shells were characterized by optical and fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. By comparing phase diagrams of a regular Janus droplet and a Janus droplet with the hemispherical shell, we show that the formation of the hemispherical shell nearly doubles the range of the Janus morphology and maintains the Janus morphology upon a certain degree of external perturbation (e.g., adding hydrocarbon-water or fluorocarbon-water surfactants). We attribute the increased stability of the Janus droplets to (1) the surfactant nature of polymeric shell formed and (2) increase in interfacial tension between hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon due to polymer shell formation. This finding opens the door of utilizing these stabilized Janus droplets in a demanding environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan He
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Suchol Savagatrup
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Lauren D Zarzar
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University , University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Timothy M Swager
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge Massachusetts 02139, United States
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Hann SD, Lee D, Stebe KJ. Tuning interfacial complexation in aqueous two phase systems with polyelectrolytes and nanoparticles for compound all water emulsion bodies (AWE-somes). Phys Chem Chem Phys 2017; 19:23825-23831. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cp02809a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Compound AWE-somes with tunable shells generated by aqueous interfacial complexation of a polycation with a polyanion and anionic nanoparticle mixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah D. Hann
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- University of Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia
- USA
| | - Daeyeon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- University of Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia
- USA
| | - Kathleen J. Stebe
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- University of Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia
- USA
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Tromp RH, Tuinier R, Vis M. Polyelectrolytes adsorbed at water–water interfaces. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016; 18:30931-30939. [DOI: 10.1039/c6cp06789a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Interfacial adsorption of polyelectrolytes provides a new strategy for the stabilization of water-in-water emulsions formed by incompatible polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Hans Tromp
- NIZO food research
- The Netherlands
- Van 't Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloid Chemistry
- Department of Chemistry
- Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science
| | - Remco Tuinier
- Van 't Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloid Chemistry
- Department of Chemistry
- Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science
- Utrecht University
- 3584 CH Utrecht
| | - Mark Vis
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- 5600 MB Eindhoven
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