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Qi C, Ma X, Zhong J, Fang J, Huang Y, Deng X, Kong T, Liu Z. Facile and Programmable Capillary-Induced Assembly of Prototissues via Hanging Drop Arrays. ACS NANO 2023; 17:16787-16797. [PMID: 37639562 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c03516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
An important goal for bottom-up synthetic biology is to construct tissue-like structures from artificial cells. The key is the ability to control the assembly of the individual artificial cells. Unlike most methods resorting to external fields or sophisticated devices, inspired by the hanging drop method used for culturing spheroids of biological cells, we employ a capillary-driven approach to assemble giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs)-based protocells into colonized prototissue arrays by means of a coverslip with patterned wettability. By spatially confining and controllably merging a mixed population of lipid-coated double-emulsion droplets that hang on a water/oil interface, an array of synthetic tissue-like constructs can be obtained. Each prototissue module in the array comprises multiple tightly packed droplet compartments where interfacial lipid bilayers are self-assembled at the interfaces both between two neighboring droplets and between the droplet and the external aqueous environment. The number, shape, and composition of the interconnected droplet compartments can be precisely controlled. Each prototissue module functions as a processer, in which fast signal transports of molecules via cell-cell and cell-environment communications have been demonstrated by molecular diffusions and cascade enzyme reactions, exhibiting the ability to be used as biochemical sensing and microreactor arrays. Our work provides a simple yet scalable and programmable method to form arrays of prototissues for synthetic biology, tissue engineering, and high-throughput assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Qi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro/Nano Optomechatronics Engineering, College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Xudong Ma
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro/Nano Optomechatronics Engineering, College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Junfeng Zhong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro/Nano Optomechatronics Engineering, College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Jiangyu Fang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro/Nano Optomechatronics Engineering, College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Yuanding Huang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Xiaokang Deng
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Tiantian Kong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
- Department of Urology, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Zhou Liu
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
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2
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Sato Y, Takinoue M. Creation of Artificial Cell-Like Structures Promoted by Microfluidics Technologies. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:E216. [PMID: 30934758 PMCID: PMC6523379 DOI: 10.3390/mi10040216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The creation of artificial cells is an immensely challenging task in science. Artificial cells contribute to revealing the mechanisms of biological systems and deepening our understanding of them. The progress of versatile biological research fields has clarified many biological phenomena, and various artificial cell models have been proposed in these fields. Microfluidics provides useful technologies for the study of artificial cells because it allows the fabrication of cell-like compartments, including water-in-oil emulsions and giant unilamellar vesicles. Furthermore, microfluidics also allows the mimicry of cellular functions with chip devices based on sophisticated chamber design. In this review, we describe contributions of microfluidics to the study of artificial cells. Although typical microfluidic methods are useful for the creation of artificial-cell compartments, recent methods provide further benefits, including low-cost fabrication and a reduction of the sample volume. Microfluidics also allows us to create multi-compartments, compartments with artificial organelles, and on-chip artificial cells. We discuss these topics and the future perspective of microfluidics for the study of artificial cells and molecular robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Sato
- Department of Computer Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8502, Japan
| | - Masahiro Takinoue
- Department of Computer Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8502, Japan
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3
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Idrissi ME, Meyer CE, Zartner L, Meier W. Nanosensors based on polymer vesicles and planar membranes: a short review. J Nanobiotechnology 2018; 16:63. [PMID: 30165853 PMCID: PMC6116380 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-018-0393-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
This review aims to summarize the advance in the field of nanosensors based on two particular materials: polymer vesicles (polymersomes) and polymer planar membranes. These two types of polymer-based structural arrangements have been shown to be efficient in the production of sensors as their features allow to adapt to different environment but also to increase the sensitivity and the selectivity of the sensing device. Polymersomes and planar polymer membranes offer a platform of choice for a wide range of chemical functionalization and characteristic structural organization which allows a convenient usage in numerous sensing applications. These materials appear as great candidates for such nanosensors considering the broad variety of polymers. They also enable the confection of robust nanosized architectures providing interesting properties for numerous applications in many domains ranging from pollution to drug monitoring. This report gives an overview of these different sensing strategies whether the nanosensors aim to detect chemicals, biological or physical signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed El Idrissi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Claire Elsa Meyer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Luisa Zartner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Wolfgang Meier
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
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4
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Li A, Pazzi J, Xu M, Subramaniam AB. Cellulose Abetted Assembly and Temporally Decoupled Loading of Cargo into Vesicles Synthesized from Functionally Diverse Lamellar Phase Forming Amphiphiles. Biomacromolecules 2018; 19:849-859. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b01645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, California 95343, United States
| | - Joseph Pazzi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, California 95343, United States
| | - Melissa Xu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, California 95343, United States
| | - Anand Bala Subramaniam
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, California 95343, United States
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5
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Craciun I, Denes AS, Gunkel-Grabole G, Belluati A, Palivan CG. Surfaces Decorated with Polymeric Nanocompartments for pH Reporting. Helv Chim Acta 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/hlca.201700290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ioana Craciun
- Department of Chemistry; University of Basel; BPR 1096 Mattenstrasse 24a 4002 Basel Switzerland
| | - Alexandru S. Denes
- Department of Chemistry; University of Basel; BPR 1096 Mattenstrasse 24a 4002 Basel Switzerland
| | - Gesine Gunkel-Grabole
- Department of Chemistry; University of Basel; BPR 1096 Mattenstrasse 24a 4002 Basel Switzerland
| | - Andrea Belluati
- Department of Chemistry; University of Basel; BPR 1096 Mattenstrasse 24a 4002 Basel Switzerland
| | - Cornelia G. Palivan
- Department of Chemistry; University of Basel; BPR 1096 Mattenstrasse 24a 4002 Basel Switzerland
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6
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Petit J, Thomi L, Schultze J, Makowski M, Negwer I, Koynov K, Herminghaus S, Wurm FR, Bäumchen O, Landfester K. A modular approach for multifunctional polymersomes with controlled adhesive properties. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:894-900. [PMID: 29303200 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm01885a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The bottom-up approach in synthetic biology involves the engineering of synthetic cells by designing biological and chemical building blocks, which can be combined in order to mimic cellular functions. The first step for mimicking a living cell is the design of an appropriate compartment featuring a multifunctional membrane. This is of particular interest since it allows for the selective attachment of different groups or molecules to the membrane. In this context, we report on a modular approach for polymeric vesicles, so-called polymersomes, with a multifunctional surface, namely hydroxyl, alkyne and acrylate groups. We demonstrate that the surface of the polymersome can be functionalized to facilitate imaging, via fluorescent dyes, or to improve the specific adhesion to surfaces by using a biotin functionalization. This generally applicable multifunctionality allows for the covalent integration of various molecules in the membrane of a synthetic cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Petit
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS), 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Laura Thomi
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPIP), 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Jennifer Schultze
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPIP), 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Marcin Makowski
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS), 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Inka Negwer
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPIP), 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Kaloian Koynov
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPIP), 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Stephan Herminghaus
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS), 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Frederik R Wurm
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPIP), 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Oliver Bäumchen
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS), 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
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7
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Microfluidic fabrication of polymersomes enclosing an active Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction: Effect on their stability of solute concentrations in the external media. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2016; 146:406-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2016.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Revised: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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8
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Jang WS, Park SC, Reed EH, Dooley KP, Wheeler SF, Lee D, Hammer DA. Enzymatically triggered rupture of polymersomes. SOFT MATTER 2016; 12:1014-20. [PMID: 26616557 PMCID: PMC5148629 DOI: 10.1039/c5sm01881a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Polymersomes are robust vesicles made from amphiphilic block co-polymers. Large populations of uniform giant polymersomes with defined, entrapped species can be made by templating of double-emulsions using microfluidics. In the present study, a series of two enzymatic reactions, one inside and the other outside of the polymersome, were designed to induce rupture of polymersomes. We measured how the kinetics of rupture were affected by altering enzyme concentration. These results suggest that protocells with entrapped enzymes can be engineered to secrete contents on cue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo-Sik Jang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA.
| | - Seung Chul Park
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA.
| | - Ellen H Reed
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA.
| | - Kevin P Dooley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro NJ, USA
| | | | - Daeyeon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA.
| | - Daniel A Hammer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA. and Department of Bioengineering, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA
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Yashin VV, Kolmakov GV, Shum H, Balazs AC. Designing Synthetic Microcapsules That Undergo Biomimetic Communication and Autonomous Motion. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2015; 31:11951-11963. [PMID: 26218608 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b01862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Inspired by the collective behavior of slime molds and amoebas, we designed synthetic cell-like objects that move and self-organize in response to self-generated chemical gradients, thereby exhibiting autochemotaxis. Using computational modeling, we specifically focused on microcapsules that encompass a permeable shell and are localized on an adhesive surface in solution. Lacking any internal machinery, these spherical, fluid-filled shells might resemble the earliest protocells. Our microcapsules do, however, encase particles that can diffuse through the outer shell and into the surrounding fluid. The released particles play two important, physically realizable roles: (1) they affect the permeability of neighboring capsules and (2) they generate adhesion gradients on the underlying surface. Due to feedback mechanisms provided by the released particles, the self-generated adhesion gradients, and hydrodynamic interactions, the capsules undergo collective, self-sustained motion and even exhibit antlike tracking behavior. With the introduction of a chemically patterned stripe on the surface, a triad of capsules can be driven to pick up four-capsule cargo, transport this cargo, and drop off this payload at a designated site. We also modeled a system where the released particles give rise to a particular cycle of negative feedback loops (mimicking the "repressilator" network), which regulates the production of chemicals within the capsules and hence their release into the solution. By altering the system parameters, three capsules could be controllably driven to self-organize into a stable, close-packed triad that would either translate as a group or remain stationary. Moreover, the stationary triads could be made to switch off after assembly and thus produce minimal quantities of chemicals. Taken together, our models allow us to design a rich variety of self-propelled structures that achieve complex, cooperative behavior through fundamental physicochemical phenomena. The studies can also shed light on factors that enable individual protocells to communicate and self-assemble into larger communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor V Yashin
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - German V Kolmakov
- Physics Department, New York City College of Technology , Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Henry Shum
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
| | - Anna C Balazs
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
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10
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Arora JS, Ponnusamy T, Zheng R, Venkataraman P, Raghavan SR, Blake D, John VT. Spatially directed vesicle capture in the ordered pores of breath-figure polymer films. SOFT MATTER 2015; 11:5188-5191. [PMID: 26021456 DOI: 10.1039/c5sm01068c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This work describes a new method to selectively capture liposomes and other vesicle entities in the patterned pores of breath-figure polymer films. The process involves the deposition of a hydrophobe containing biopolymer in the pores of the breath figure, and the tethering of vesicles to the biopolymer through hydrophobic interactions. The process is versatile, can be scaled up and extended to the deposition of other functional materials in the pores of breath figures.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Arora
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA.
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11
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Shum H, Yashin VV, Balazs AC. Self-assembly of microcapsules regulated via the repressilator signaling network. SOFT MATTER 2015; 11:3542-9. [PMID: 25793655 DOI: 10.1039/c5sm00201j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
One of the intriguing challenges in designing active matter is devising systems that not only self-organize, but also exhibit self-regulation. Inspired by biological regulatory networks, we design a collection of self-organizing, self-regulating microcapsules that move in response to self-generated chemical signals. Three microcapsules act as localized sources of distinct chemicals that diffuse through surrounding fluid. Production rates are modulated by the "repressilator" regulatory network motif: each chemical species represses the production of the next in a cycle. Depending on the maximum production rates and capsule separation distances, we show that immobile capsules either exhibit steady or oscillatory chemical production. We then consider movement of the microcapsules over the substrate, induced by gradients in surface energy due to adsorbed chemicals. We numerically simulate this advection-diffusion-reaction system with solid-fluid interactions by combining lattice Boltzmann, immersed boundary and finite difference methods, and thereby, construct systems where the three capsules spontaneously assemble to form a close-packed triad. Chemical oscillations are shown to be critical to this assembly. By adjusting parameters, the triad can either remain stationary or translate as a cohesive group. Stationary triads can also be made to "turn off", producing chemicals at minimal rates after assembly. These findings provide design rules for creating synthetic material systems that encompass biomimetic feedback loops, which enable dynamic collective behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Shum
- Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 940 Benedum Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
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12
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Gu WX, Li QL, Lu H, Fang L, Chen Q, Yang YW, Gao H. Construction of stable polymeric vesicles based on azobenzene and beta-cyclodextrin grafted poly(glycerol methacrylate)s for potential applications in colon-specific drug delivery. Chem Commun (Camb) 2015; 51:4715-8. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cc00628g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Stable polymeric vesicles constructed from cyclodextrin- and azobenzene-grafted poly(glycerol methacrylate)s exhibited potential applications in colon-specific drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Xing Gu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organic Solar Cells and Photochemical Conversion
- Tianjin University of Technology
- Tianjin 300384
- P. R. China
| | - Qing-Lan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry
- College of Chemistry
- International Joint Research Laboratory of Nano-Micro Architecture Chemistry (NMAC)
- Jilin University
- Changchun 130012
| | - Hongguang Lu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organic Solar Cells and Photochemical Conversion
- Tianjin University of Technology
- Tianjin 300384
- P. R. China
| | - Lei Fang
- Department of Chemistry
- Texas A&M University
- College Station
- USA
| | - Qixian Chen
- Department of Materials Engineering
- Graduate School of Engineering
- University of Tokyo
- Bunkyo-ku
- Japan
| | - Ying-Wei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry
- College of Chemistry
- International Joint Research Laboratory of Nano-Micro Architecture Chemistry (NMAC)
- Jilin University
- Changchun 130012
| | - Hui Gao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organic Solar Cells and Photochemical Conversion
- Tianjin University of Technology
- Tianjin 300384
- P. R. China
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13
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Jang WS, Park SC, Kim M, Doh J, Lee D, Hammer DA. The effect of stabilizer on the mechanical response of double-emulsion-templated polymersomes. Macromol Rapid Commun 2014; 36:378-84. [PMID: 25515004 DOI: 10.1002/marc.201400472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2014] [Revised: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that polymersomes templated by microfluidic double-emulsion possess several advantages such as high monodispersity and encapsulation efficiency compared with those generated based on thin-film rehydration and electroformation. Stabilizers, including bovine serum albumin (BSA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), have been used to enhance the formation and stability of double emulsions that are used as templates for the generation of polymersomes. In this work, the effect of stabilizers on the mechanical response of double-emulsion-templated polymersomes using micropipette aspiration is investigated. It is demonstrated that the existence of stabilizers results in the inelastic response in poly-mersomes in the early stage of solvent removal. However, aged polymersomes that have little residual solvent show elastic behavior. Polymersomes prepared from PVA-stabilized double emulsions have noticeably lower area expansion moduli than polymersomes prepared from stabilizer-free and BSA-stabilized double emulsions, suggesting that PVA is incorporated in the bilayer membrane of polymersomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo-Sik Jang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 220 South 33rd Street 311A Towne Building, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6315, USA
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