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Gonçalves RC, Oliveira MB, Mano JF. Exploring the potential of all-aqueous immiscible systems for preparing complex biomaterials and cellular constructs. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2024. [PMID: 39010747 DOI: 10.1039/d4mh00431k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
All-aqueous immiscible systems derived from liquid-liquid phase separation of incompatible hydrophilic agents such as polymers and salts have found increasing interest in the biomedical and tissue engineering fields in the last few years. The unique characteristics of aqueous interfaces, namely their low interfacial tension and elevated permeability, as well as the non-toxic environment and high water content of the immiscible phases, confer to these systems optimal qualities for the development of biomaterials such as hydrogels and soft membranes, as well as for the preparation of in vitro tissues derived from cellular assembly. Here, we overview the main properties of these systems and present a critical review of recent strategies that have been used for the development of biomaterials with increased levels of complexity using all-aqueous immiscible phases and interfaces, and their potential as cell-confining environments for micropatterning approaches and the bioengineering of cell-rich structures. Importantly, due to the relatively recent emergence of these areas, several key design considerations are presented, in order to guide researchers in the field. Finally, the main present challenges, future directions, and adaptability to develop advanced materials with increased biomimicry and new potential applications are briefly evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel C Gonçalves
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Mariana B Oliveira
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - João F Mano
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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2
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Zhu Y, Beaumont M, Solin K, Spiliopoulos P, Zhao B, Tao H, Kontturi E, Bai L, Rojas OJ. Interfacial Membranization of Regenerated Cellulose Nanoparticles and a Protein Renders Stable Water-in-Water Emulsion. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2400952. [PMID: 39011941 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202400952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Pickering water-in-water (W/W) emulsions stabilized by biobased colloids are pertinent to engineering biomaterials with hierarchical and confined architectures. In this study, stable W/W emulsions are developed through membranization utilizing biopolymer structures formed by the adsorption of cellulose II nanospheres and a globular protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), at droplet surfaces. The produced cellulose II nanospheres (NPcat, 63 nm diameter) bearing a soft and highly accessible shell, endow rapid and significant binding (16 mg cm- 2) with BSA. NPcat and BSA formed complexes that spontaneously stabilized liquid droplets, resulting in stable W/W emulsions. It is proposed that such a system is a versatile all-aqueous platform for encapsulation, (bio)catalysis, delivery, and synthetic cell mimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Zhu
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FIN-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland
| | - Marco Beaumont
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry of Renewable Resources, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 24, Tulln, A-3430, Austria
| | - Katariina Solin
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FIN-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland
| | - Panagiotis Spiliopoulos
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FIN-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland
| | - Bin Zhao
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FIN-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland
| | - Han Tao
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FIN-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland
| | - Eero Kontturi
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FIN-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland
| | - Long Bai
- Key Laboratory of Biobased Material Science and Technology (Ministry of Education), Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, P. R. China
| | - Orlando J Rojas
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, FIN-00076 Aalto, Espoo, Finland
- Bioproducts Institute, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada
- Department of Wood Science, The University of British Columbia, 2900-2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
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Honaryar H, Amirfattahi S, Niroobakhsh Z. Associative Liquid-In-Liquid 3D Printing Techniques for Freeform Fabrication of Soft Matter. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2206524. [PMID: 36670057 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202206524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Shaping soft materials into prescribed 3D complex designs has been challenging yet feasible using various 3D printing technologies. For a broader range of soft matters to be printable, liquid-in-liquid 3D printing techniques have emerged in which an ink phase is printed into 3D constructs within a bath. Most of the attention in this field has been focused on using a support bath with favorable rheology (i.e., shear-thinning behavior) which limits the selection of materials, impeding the broad application of such techniques. However, a growing body of work has begun to leverage the interaction or association of the two involved phases (specifically at the liquid-liquid interface) to fabricate complex constructs from a myriad of soft materials with practical structural, mechanical, optical, magnetic, and communicative properties. This review article has provided an overview of the studies on such associative liquid-in-liquid 3D printing techniques along with their fundamentals, underlying mechanisms, various characterization techniques used for ensuring the structural stability, and practical properties of prints. Also, the future paths with the potential applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houman Honaryar
- Division of Energy, Matter, and Systems, School of Science and Engineering, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
| | - Saba Amirfattahi
- Division of Energy, Matter, and Systems, School of Science and Engineering, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
| | - Zahra Niroobakhsh
- Division of Energy, Matter, and Systems, School of Science and Engineering, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
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Tang Q, Deng N, Chen J, Sun H, Dong Y, Zeng Q, Yuan H, Binks BP, Meng T. One-Step Fabrication of Coconut-Like Capsules via Competitive Reactions at an All-Aqueous Interface for Enzyme Immobilization. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:10621-10628. [PMID: 36800174 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c19788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
A concept of interfacial competitive reaction between biomineralization and alginate gelation at an all-aqueous single-emulsion droplet interface to prepare robust coconut-like capsules (inner hard wall and outer soft wall) is developed. The concept is further applied for enzyme immobilization with high encapsulation efficiency, enzyme loading, mass transfer coefficient, and recyclability. The thickness and swelling properties of the shell are simply tunable by a competitive reaction. Our platform may open a green, facile, and efficient way to prepare organic-inorganic hybrid sustainable materials with tailored compositions and structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiming Tang
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, P. R. China
| | - Ningjun Deng
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, P. R. China
| | - Jialin Chen
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, P. R. China
| | - Hejia Sun
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, P. R. China
| | - Yuman Dong
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, P. R. China
| | - Qi Zeng
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, P. R. China
| | - Hao Yuan
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, P. R. China
| | - Bernard P Binks
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, U.K
| | - Tao Meng
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, P. R. China
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Zhang S, Qi C, Zhang W, Zhou H, Wu N, Yang M, Meng S, Liu Z, Kong T. In Situ Endothelialization of Free-Form 3D Network of Interconnected Tubular Channels via Interfacial Coacervation by Aqueous-in-Aqueous Embedded Bioprinting. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2209263. [PMID: 36448877 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202209263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The challenge of bioprinting vascularized tissues is structure retention and in situ endothelialization. The issue is addressed by adopting an aqueous-in-aqueous 3D embedded bioprinting strategy, in which the interfacial coacervation of the cyto-mimic aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) are employed for maintaining the suspending liquid architectures, and serving as filamentous scaffolds for cell attachment and growth. By incorporating endothelial cells in the ink phase of ATPS, tubular lumens enclosed by coacervated complexes of polylysine (PLL) and oxidized bacteria celluloses (oxBC) can be cellularized with a confluent endothelial layer, without any help of adhesive peptides. By applying PLL/oxBC ATPS for embedded bioprinting, free-form 3D vascular networks with in situ endothelialization of interconnected tubular lumens are achieved. This simple approach is a one-step process without any sacrificed templates and post-treatments. The resultant functional vessel networks with arbitrary complexity are suspended in liquid medium and can be conveniently handled, opening new routes for the in vitro production of thick vascularized tissues for pathological research, regeneration therapy and animal-free drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Cheng Qi
- College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Hui Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Nihuan Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Si Meng
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Zhou Liu
- 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, Inst Translat Med, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518000, China
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6
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Esquena J. Recent advances on water-in-water emulsions in segregative systems of two water-soluble polymers. Curr Opin Food Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cofs.2023.101010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
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7
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Toor R, Neujahr Copstein A, Trébuchet C, Goudeau B, Garrigue P, Lapeyre V, Perro A, Ravaine V. Responsive microgels-based colloidosomes constructed from all-aqueous pH-switchable coacervate droplets. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 630:66-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.10.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Mendez-Ortiz W, Stebe KJ, Lee D. Ionic Strength-Dependent Assembly of Polyelectrolyte-Nanoparticle Membranes via Interfacial Complexation at a Water-Water Interface. ACS NANO 2022; 16:21087-21097. [PMID: 36449948 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c08916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Complexation between oppositely charged nanoparticles (NPs) and polyelectrolytes (PEs) is a scalable approach to assemble functional, stimuli-responsive membranes. Complexation at interfaces of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) has emerged as a powerful method to assemble these functional structures. Membranes formed at these interfaces can grow continuously to thicknesses approaching several millimeters and display a high degree of tunability via modification of solution properties such as ionic strength. To identify the membrane assembly mechanism, we study interfacial assembly in a prototypical dextran/PEG ATPS, in which silica (SiO2) NPs suspended in the PEG phase undergo interfacial complexation with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) supplied in the dextran phase. Using a microfluidic device that facilitates sequential insertion of fluorescent and nonfluorescent PDADMAC, we observe a transition in the membrane growth mechanism with ionic strength. In the absence of added salt ([NaCl] = 0 mM) PDADMAC chains permeate through the existing membrane to complex with NPs on the PEG side of the membrane, leading to the formation of well-stratified structures. At elevated ionic strength ([NaCl] = 500 mM), this permeation mechanism is lost. Rather, the complexing species incorporate uniformly across the membrane. We attribute this transition to a rapid exchange of PE-counterion, NP-counterion, and PE/NP binding sites facilitated by an increase in extrinsically compensated charged groups on the NPs and PEs at high salinity. These PDADMAC/SiO2 NP membranes have tremendous potential for the formation of functional membranes, offering control over the internal structure and serving as an ideal system for the generation of targeted release systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfredo Mendez-Ortiz
- 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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9
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Aqueous two-phase emulsions toward biologically relevant applications. TRENDS IN CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trechm.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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10
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Daradmare S, Lee CS. Recent progress in the synthesis of all-aqueous two-phase droplets using microfluidic approaches. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2022; 219:112795. [PMID: 36049253 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
An aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) is a system with liquid-liquid phase separation and shows great potential for the extraction, separation, purification, and enrichment of proteins, membranes, viruses, enzymes, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules because of its simplicity, biocompatibility, and wide applicability [1-4]. The clear aqueous-aqueous interface of ATPSs is highly advantageous for their implementation, therefore making ATPSs a green alternative approach to replace conventional emulsion systems, such as water-in-oil droplets. All aqueous emulsions (water-in-water, w-in-w) hold great promise in the biomedical field as glucose sensors [5] and promising carriers for the encapsulation and release of various biomolecules and nonbiomolecules [6-10]. However, the ultralow interfacial tension between the two phases is a hurdle in generating w-in-w emulsion droplets. In the past, bulk emulsification and electrospray techniques were employed for the generation of w-in-w emulsion droplets and the fabrication of microparticles and microcapsules in the later stage. Bulk emulsification is a simple and low-cost technique; however, it generates polydisperse w-in-w emulsion droplets. Another technique, electrospray, involves easy experimental setups that can generate monodisperse but nonspherical w-in-w emulsion droplets. In comparison, microfluidic platforms provide monodisperse w-in-w emulsion droplets with spherical shapes, deal with the small volumes of solutions and short reaction times and achieve portability and versatility in their design through rapid prototyping. Owing to several advantages, microfluidic approaches have recently been introduced. To date, several different strategies have been explored to generate w-in-w emulsions and multiple w-in-w emulsions and to fabricate microparticles and microcapsules using conventional microfluidic devices. Although a few review articles on ATPSs emulsions have been published in the past, to date, few reviews have exclusively focused on the evolution of microfluidic-based ATPS droplets. The present review begins with a brief discussion of the history of ATPSs and their fundamentals, which is followed by an account chronicling the integration of microfluidic devices with ATPSs to generate w-in-w emulsion droplets. Furthermore, the stabilization strategies of w-in-w emulsion droplets and microfluidic fabrication of microparticles and microcapsules for modern applications, such as biomolecule encapsulation and spheroid construction, are discussed in detail in this review. We believe that the present review will provide useful information to not only new entrants in the microfluidic community wanting to appreciate the findings of the field but also existing researchers wanting to keep themselves updated on progress in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Daradmare
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Soo Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea.
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Zhu S, Xie G, Cui H, Li Q, Forth J, Yuan S, Tian J, Pan Y, Guo W, Chai Y, Zhang Y, Yang Z, Yu RWH, Yu Y, Liu S, Chao Y, Shen Y, Zhao S, Russell TP, Shum HC. Aquabots. ACS NANO 2022; 16:13761-13770. [PMID: 35904791 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c00619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Soft robots, made from elastomers, easily bend and flex, but deformability constraints severely limit navigation through and within narrow, confined spaces. Using aqueous two-phase systems we print water-in-water constructs that, by aqueous phase-separation-induced self-assembly, produce ultrasoft liquid robots, termed aquabots, comprised of hierarchical structures that span in length scale from the nanoscopic to microsciopic, that are beyond the resolution limits of printing and overcome the deformability barrier. The exterior of the compartmentalized membranes is easily functionalized, for example, by binding enzymes, catalytic nanoparticles, and magnetic nanoparticles that impart sensitive magnetic responsiveness. These ultrasoft aquabots can adapt their shape for gripping and transporting objects and can be used for targeted photocatalysis, delivery, and release in confined and tortuous spaces. These biocompatible, multicompartmental, and multifunctional aquabots can be readily applied to medical micromanipulation, targeted cargo delivery, tissue engineering, and biomimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shipei Zhu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Ganhua Xie
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley 94720, California, United States
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China
| | - Huanqing Cui
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Qingchuan Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Joe Forth
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley 94720, California, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, London WC1H 0AJ, United Kingdom
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Jingxuan Tian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Yi Pan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Wei Guo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Yu Chai
- Department of Physics, The City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
| | - Yage Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Zhenyu Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Ryan Wing Hei Yu
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, U.K
| | - Yafeng Yu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Sihan Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
- Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Youchuang Chao
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Yinan Shen
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge 02138, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Sai Zhao
- Department of Physics, The City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
| | - Thomas P Russell
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley 94720, California, United States
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003, Massachusetts, United States
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P. R. China
- WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong 999077, (SAR), Hong Kong, P. R. China
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12
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Properties and stability of water-in-water emulsions stabilized by microfibrillated bacterial cellulose. Food Hydrocoll 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2022.107698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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13
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Duraivel S, Subramaniam V, Chisolm S, Scheutz GM, Sumerlin BS, Bhattacharjee T, Angelini TE. Leveraging ultra-low interfacial tension and liquid-liquid phase separation in embedded 3D bioprinting. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2022; 3:031307. [PMID: 38505275 PMCID: PMC10903370 DOI: 10.1063/5.0087387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Many recently developed 3D bioprinting strategies operate by extruding aqueous biopolymer solutions directly into a variety of different support materials constituted from swollen, solvated, aqueous, polymer assemblies. In developing these 3D printing methods and materials, great care is often taken to tune the rheological behaviors of both inks and 3D support media. By contrast, much less attention has been given to the physics of the interfaces created when structuring one polymer phase into another in embedded 3D printing applications. For example, it is currently unclear whether a dynamic interfacial tension between miscible phases stabilizes embedded 3D bioprinted structures as they are shaped while in a liquid state. Interest in the physics of interfaces between complex fluids has grown dramatically since the discovery of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in living cells. We believe that many new insights coming from this burst of investigation into LLPS within biological contexts can be leveraged to develop new materials and methods for improved 3D bioprinting that leverage LLPS in mixtures of biopolymers, biocompatible synthetic polymers, and proteins. Thus, in this review article, we highlight work at the interface between recent LLPS research and embedded 3D bioprinting methods and materials, and we introduce a 3D bioprinting method that leverages LLPS to stabilize printed biopolymer inks embedded in a bioprinting support material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senthilkumar Duraivel
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
| | - Vignesh Subramaniam
- Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
| | - Steven Chisolm
- Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
| | - Georg M. Scheutz
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
| | - Brent. S. Sumerlin
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
| | - Tapomoy Bhattacharjee
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, Karnataka, India
| | - Thomas E. Angelini
- Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
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14
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Zhou C, Zhu P, Tian Y, Shi R, Wang L. Progress in all-aqueous droplets generation with microfluidics: Mechanisms of formation and stability improvements. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2022; 3:021301. [PMID: 38505416 PMCID: PMC10914135 DOI: 10.1063/5.0054201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
All-aqueous systems have attracted intensive attention as a promising platform for applications in cell separation, protein partitioning, and DNA extraction, due to their selective separation capability, rapid mass transfer, and good biocompatibility. Reliable generation of all-aqueous droplets with accurate control over their size and size distribution is vital to meet the increasingly growing demands in emulsion-based applications. However, the ultra-low interfacial tension and large effective interfacial thickness of the water-water interface pose challenges for the generation and stabilization of uniform all-aqueous droplets, respectively. Microfluidics technology has emerged as a versatile platform for the precision generation of all-aqueous droplets with improved stability. This review aims to systematize the controllable generation of all-aqueous droplets and summarize various strategies to improve their stability with microfluidics. We first provide a comprehensive review on the recent progress of all-aqueous droplets generation with microfluidics by detailing the properties of all-aqueous systems, mechanisms of droplet formation, active and passive methods for droplet generation, and the property of droplets. We then review the various strategies used to improve the stability of all-aqueous droplets and discuss the fabrication of biomaterials using all-aqueous droplets as liquid templates. We envision that this review will benefit the future development of all-aqueous droplet generation and its applications in developing biomaterials, which will be useful for researchers working in the field of all-aqueous systems and those who are new and interested in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pingan Zhu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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15
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Perro A, Coudon N, Chapel JP, Martin N, Béven L, Douliez JP. Building micro-capsules using water-in-water emulsion droplets as templates. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 613:681-696. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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16
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Schmidt BVKJ. Multicompartment Hydrogels. Macromol Rapid Commun 2022; 43:e2100895. [PMID: 35092101 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogels belong to the most promising materials in polymer and materials science at the moment. As they feature soft and tissue-like character as well as high water-content, a broad range of applications are addressed with hydrogels, e.g. tissue engineering and wound dressings but also soft robotics, drug delivery, actuators and catalysis. Ways to tailor hydrogel properties are crosslinking mechanism, hydrogel shape and reinforcement, but new features can be introduced by variation of hydrogel composition as well, e.g. via monomer choice, functionalization or compartmentalization. Especially, multicompartment hydrogels drive progress towards complex and highly functional soft materials. In the present review the latest developments in multicompartment hydrogels are highlighted with a focus on three types of compartments, i.e. micellar/vesicular, droplets or multi-layers including various sub-categories. Furthermore, several morphologies of compartmentalized hydrogels and applications of multicompartment hydrogels will be discussed as well. Finally, an outlook towards future developments of the field will be given. The further development of multicompartment hydrogels is highly relevant for a broad range of applications and will have a significant impact on biomedicine and organic devices. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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17
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Continuous, autonomous subsurface cargo shuttling by nature-inspired meniscus-climbing systems. Nat Chem 2021; 14:208-215. [PMID: 34845343 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-021-00837-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Water-walking insects can harness capillary forces by changing their body posture to climb or descend the meniscus between the surface of water and a solid object. Controlling surface tension in this manner is necessary for predation, escape and survival. Inspired by this behaviour, we demonstrate autonomous, aqueous-based synthetic systems that overcome the meniscus barrier and shuttle cargo subsurface to and from a landing site and a targeted drop-off site. We change the sign of the contact angle of a coacervate sac containing an aqueous phase or of a hydrogel droplet hanging from the surface by controlling the normal force acting on the sac or droplet. The cyclic buoyancy-induced cargo shuttling occurs continuously, as long as the supply of reactants diffusing to the sac or droplet from the surrounding aqueous phase is not exhausted. These findings may lead to potential applications in autonomously driven reaction or delivery systems and micro-/milli-robotics.
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Dang S, Brady J, Rel R, Surineni S, O'Shaughnessy C, McGorty R. Core-shell droplets and microcapsules formed through liquid-liquid phase separation of a colloid-polymer mixture. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:8300-8307. [PMID: 34550150 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01091c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microcapsules allow for the controlled containment, transport, and release of cargoes ranging from pharmaceuticals to fragrances. Given the interest from a variety of industries in microcapsules and other core-shell structures, a multitude of fabrication strategies exist. Here, we report on a method relying on a mixture of temperature-responsive microgel particles, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM), and a polymer which undergo fluid-fluid phase separation. At room temperature this mixture separates into colloid-rich (liquid) and colloid-poor (gas) fluids. By heating the sample above a critical temperature where the microgel particles shrink dramatically and develop a more deeply attractive interparticle potential, the droplets of the colloid-rich phase become gel-like. As the temperature is lowered back to room temperature, these droplets of gelled colloidal particles reliquefy and phase separation within the droplet occurs. This phase separation leads to colloid-poor droplets within the colloid-rich droplets surrounded by a continuous colloid-poor phase. The gas/liquid/gas all-aqueous double emulsion lasts only a few minutes before a majority of the inner droplets escape. However, the colloid-rich shell of the core-shell droplets can solidify with the addition of salt. That this method creates core-shell structures with a shell composed of stimuli-sensitive microgel colloidal particles using only aqueous components makes it attractive for encapsulating biological materials and making capsules that respond to changes in, for example, temperature, salt concentration, or pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Dang
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92110, USA.
| | - John Brady
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92110, USA.
| | - Ryle Rel
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92110, USA.
| | - Sreenidhi Surineni
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92110, USA.
| | - Conor O'Shaughnessy
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92110, USA.
| | - Ryan McGorty
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92110, USA.
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A new method to prepare microparticles based on an Aqueous Two-Phase system (ATPS), without organic solvents. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 599:642-649. [PMID: 33979746 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.03.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Aqueous Two-Phase Systems (ATPS) are aqueous droplets dispersed in an aqueous phase. This specific behavior arises from interactions between at least two water-soluble entities, such as thermodynamically incompatible polymers. A simple, fast, and "green" process to produce ATPS with an aqueous core would be of high interest to the pharmaceutical field for drug delivery. However, to date, rapid destabilization of ATPS represents the main hurdle for their use. Herein we present a novel process to achieve a stabilized microparticle-ATPS, without the use of organic solvents. EXPERIMENTS ATPS composed of dextran and polyethylene oxide were prepared. A Pickering-like emulsion technique was used to stabilize the ATPS by adsorbing semi-solid particles (chitosan-grafted lipid nanocapsules) at the interface between the two aqueous phases. Finally, microparticles were formed by a polyelectrolyte complexation and gelation. The structure and stability of ATPS were characterized using microscopy and Turbiscan analysis. FINDINGS Adding chitosan-grafted lipid nanocapsules induced ATPS stabilization. Adding a polyelectrolyte such as sodium alginate allowed the formation of microparticles with a gelled shell that strengthened the formulation against shear stress and improved long-term stability, thus demonstrating that is possible to use ATPS to form delivery systems to encapsulate hydrophilic molecules.
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Vilabril S, Nadine S, Neves CMSS, Correia CR, Freire MG, Coutinho JAP, Oliveira MB, Mano JF. One-Step All-Aqueous Interfacial Assembly of Robust Membranes for Long-Term Encapsulation and Culture of Adherent Stem/Stromal Cells. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2100266. [PMID: 33764007 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202100266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The therapeutic effectiveness and biological relevance of technologies based on adherent cells depend on platforms that enable long-term culture in controlled environments. Liquid-core capsules have been suggested as semipermeable moieties with spatial homogeneity due to the high mobility of all components in their core. The lack of cell-adhesive sites in liquid-core structures often hampers their use as platforms for stem cell-based technologies for long-term survival and cell-directed self-organization. Here, the one-step fast formation of robust polymeric capsules formed by interfacial complexation of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in an all-aqueous environment, compatible with the simultaneous encapsulation of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and microcarriers, is described. The adhesion of umbilical cord MSCs to polymeric microcarriers enables their aggregation and culture for more than 21 days in capsules prepared either manually by dropwise addition, or by scalable electrohydrodynamic atomization, generating robust and stable capsules. Cell aggregation and secretion overtime can be tailored by providing cells with static or dynamic (bioreactor) environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Vilabril
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - Sara Nadine
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - Catarina M. S. S. Neves
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - Clara R. Correia
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - Mara G. Freire
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - João A. P. Coutinho
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - Mariana B. Oliveira
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
| | - João F. Mano
- CICECO ‐ Aveiro Institute of Materials Department of Chemistry University of Aveiro Aveiro 3810‐193 Portugal
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21
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Rowland AT, Keating CD. Formation and properties of liposome-stabilized all-aqueous emulsions based on PEG/dextran, PEG/Ficoll, and PEG/sulfate aqueous biphasic systems. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:3688-3699. [PMID: 33683232 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01849j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Vesicle-stabilized all-aqueous emulsion droplets are appealing as bioreactors because they provide uniform encapsulation via equilibrium partitioning without restricting diffusion in and out of the interior. These properties rely on the composition of the aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) chosen for the emulsion and the structure of the interfacial liposome layer, respectively. Here, we explore how changing the aqueous two-phase system from a standard poly(ethyleneglycol), PEG, 8 kDa/dextran 10 kDa ATPS to PEG 8 kDa/Ficoll 70 kDa or PEG 8 kDa/Na2SO4 systems impacts droplet uniformity and partitioning of a model solute (U15 oligoRNA). We also compare liposomes formed by two different methods, both of which begin with multilamellar, polydisperse vesicles formed by gentle hydration: (1) extrusion, which produced vesicles of 150 nm average diameter, and (2) vortexing, which produced vesicles of 270 nm average diameter. Our data illustrate that while droplet uniformity and stability are somewhat better for samples based on extruded vesicles, extrusion is not necessary to create functional microreactors, as emulsions stabilized with vortexed liposomes are just as effective at solute partitioning and allow diffusion across the droplet's liposome corona. This work expands the compositions possible for liposome-stabilized, all-aqueous emulsion droplet bioreactors, making them amenable to a wider range of potential reactions. Replacing the liposome extrusion step with vortexing can reduce time and cost of bioreactor production with only modest reductions in emulsion quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T Rowland
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.
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22
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Dupré de Baubigny J, Perrin P, Pantoustier N, Salez T, Reyssat M, Monteux C. Growth Mechanism of Polymer Membranes Obtained by H-Bonding Across Immiscible Liquid Interfaces. ACS Macro Lett 2021; 10:204-209. [PMID: 35570784 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Complexation of polymers at liquid interfaces is an emerging technique to produce all-liquid printable and self-healing devices and membranes. It is crucial to control the assembly process, but the mechanisms at play remain unclear. Using two different reflectometric methods, we investigate the spontaneous growth of H-bonded PPO-PMAA (polypropylene oxide-polymetacrylic acid) membranes at a flat liquid-liquid interface. We find that the membrane thickness h grows with time t as h ∼ t1/2, which is reminiscent of a diffusion-limited process. However, counterintuitively, we observe that this process is faster as the PPO molar mass increases. We are able to rationalize these results with a model which considers the diffusion of the PPO chains within the growing membrane. The architecture of the latter is described as a gel-like porous network, with a pore size much smaller than the radius of the diffusing PPO chains, thus inducing entropic barriers that hinder the diffusion process. From the comparison between the experimental data and the result of the model, we extract some key piece of information about the microscopic structure of the membrane. This study opens the route toward the rational design of self-assembled membranes and capsules with optimal properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Dupré de Baubigny
- Sciences et Ingénierie de La Matière Molle, UMR 7615, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Patrick Perrin
- Sciences et Ingénierie de La Matière Molle, UMR 7615, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Nadège Pantoustier
- Sciences et Ingénierie de La Matière Molle, UMR 7615, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Thomas Salez
- Université Bordeaux, CNRS, LOMA, UMR 5798, 33405 Talence, France
- Global Station for Soft Matter, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0021, Japan
| | - Mathilde Reyssat
- UMR CNRS 7083 Gulliver, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Cécile Monteux
- Sciences et Ingénierie de La Matière Molle, UMR 7615, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 75005 Paris, France
- Global Station for Soft Matter, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0021, Japan
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23
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Lin D, Liu T, Yuan Q, Yang H, Ma H, Shi S, Wang D, Russell TP. Stabilizing Aqueous Three-Dimensional Printed Constructs Using Chitosan-Cellulose Nanocrystal Assemblies. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:55426-55433. [PMID: 33228355 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c16602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The assembly and binding of nanoparticles at the interfaces of aqueous two-phase systems enable the three-dimensional (3D) printing of all-aqueous naturally occurring materials. When a dispersion of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in an aqueous solution of polyethylene glycol (PEG) is brought into contact with chitosan dissolved in an aqueous solution of dextran, the CNCs and chitosan diffuse to the interface between the two immiscible aqueous solutions, electrostatically interact, and form a solid, membranous layer sufficiently rapidly to 3D print tubules of one liquid in the other. The diameter, length, spatial arrangement, and stability of the printed tubules can be broadly controlled. Adsorption and directional diffusion of ionic species across the membranous layer make heavy metal ion removal possible. The results present a platform for fabricating and developing all-aqueous compartmentalized systems where function can be independently coupled to the inherent functionality of the nanoparticles or ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Lin
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Tan Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Qingqing Yuan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Hongkun Yang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Hongyang Ma
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Shaowei Shi
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Thomas P Russell
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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24
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Zhang J, Frank BD, Kumru B, Schmidt BVKJ. Graphitic Carbon Nitride Stabilized Water-in-Water Emulsions. Macromol Rapid Commun 2020; 42:e2000433. [PMID: 33103292 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202000433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Aqueous multiphase systems have attracted a lot of interest recently espeically due to target applications in the biomedical field, cosmetics, and food. In turn, water-in-water Pickering emulsions are investigated frequently. In here, graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) stabilized water-in-water Pickering emulsions are fabricated via the dextran and poly(ethylene glycol)-based aqueous two-phase system. Five different derivatives of g-CN as the Pickering stabilizer are described and the effect of g-CN concentration on droplet sizes is investigated. Stable emulsions (up to 16 weeks) are obtained that can be broken on purpose via various approaches, including dilution, surfactant addition, and most notably light irradiation. The novel approach of water-in-water emulsion stabilization via g-CN opens up considerable advances in aqueous multiphase systems and may also introduce photocatalytic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianrui Zhang
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, 14476, Germany
| | - Bradley D Frank
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, 14476, Germany
| | - Baris Kumru
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, 14476, Germany
| | - Bernhard V K J Schmidt
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, 14476, Germany.,School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
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25
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Wang R, Wang F, Gong Y, Cheng H, Shu M, Qin T, Ding X, Hu R, Zheng K, Zhang X, Chen L, Tian X. Polymer/particle/water intermolecular interaction regulated freeze-dried Pickering emulsion morphology. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2020.125289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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26
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Zhu S, Forth J, Xie G, Chao Y, Tian J, Russell TP, Shum HC. Rapid Multilevel Compartmentalization of Stable All-Aqueous Blastosomes by Interfacial Aqueous-Phase Separation. ACS NANO 2020; 14:11215-11224. [PMID: 32515582 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c02923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Producing artificial multicellular structures to process multistep cascade reactions and mimic the fundamental aspects of living systems is an outstanding challenge. Highly biocompatible, artificial systems consisting of all-aqueous, compartmentalized multicellular systems have yet to be realized. Here, a rapid multilevel compartmentalization of an all-aqueous system where a 3D sheet of subcolloidosomes encloses a mother colloidosome by interfacial phase separation is demonstrated. These spatially organized multicellular structures are termed "blastosomes" since they are similar to blastula in appearance. The barrier to nanoparticle assembly at the water-water interface is overcome using oppositely charged polyelectrolytes that form a coacervate-nanoparticle-composite network. The conditions required to trigger interfacial phase separation and form blastosomes are quantified in a mapped state diagram. We show a versatile model for constructing artificial multicellular spheroids in all-aqueous systems. The rapid interfacial assembly of charged particles and polyelectrolytes can lock in nonequilibrium shapes of water, which also enables top-down technologies, such as 3D printing and microfluidics, to program flexible compartmentalized structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shipei Zhu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
- The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Institute for Research and Innovation (HKU-SIRI), Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Joe Forth
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, California 94720, United States
| | - Ganhua Xie
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, California 94720, United States
| | - Youchuang Chao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
- The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Institute for Research and Innovation (HKU-SIRI), Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Jingxuan Tian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
- The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Institute for Research and Innovation (HKU-SIRI), Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Thomas P Russell
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, California 94720, United States
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, 120 Governors Drive, Conte Center for Polymer Research, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
- The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Institute for Research and Innovation (HKU-SIRI), Shenzhen 518000, China
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28
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Navi M, Kieda J, Tsai SSH. Magnetic polyelectrolyte microcapsules via water-in-water droplet microfluidics. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:2851-2860. [PMID: 32555881 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00387e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Polyelectrolyte microcapsules (PEMCs) have biocompatible microcompartments. Therefore, PEMCs are useful for applications in cosmetics, food, pharmaceutics, and other industries. The fabrication of PEMCs often involves the use of harsh chemicals or cytotoxic organic phases that make biomedical applications of the microcapsules challenging. In this report, we present an all-aqueous droplet microfluidics platform for the generation of magnetic PEMCs. In the platform, we use an aqueous-two-phase system (ATPS) of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran (Dex), to generate water-in-water droplets, which are magnetically functionalized with ferrofluid. Strong polyelectrolytes (PEs) with opposite charges are used in each ATPS phase. We make emulsion templates of magnetic Dex, containing the polycations, in a continuous phase of PEG. We then apply a magnetic field to move the magnetic droplets to a second PEG phase, which contains the polyanions. By careful tuning of the fluxes of the two PEs in their respective phases, we trigger the formation of a shell at the droplet interface. Owing to the presence of the ferrofluid, the resulting microcapsules are magnetically responsive. We show that the magnetic PEMCs are capable of passive release of large pseudo-drugs as well as triggered release using external stimuli such as osmotic shock and pH change. We expect that magnetic PEMCs from this biocompatible all-aqueous platform will find utility in the fabrication of functionalized drug carriers for targeted drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Navi
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto M5B 2K3, Canada.
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29
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Pavlovic M, Antonietti M, Schmidt BVKJ, Zeininger L. Responsive Janus and Cerberus emulsions via temperature-induced phase separation in aqueous polymer mixtures. J Colloid Interface Sci 2020; 575:88-95. [PMID: 32361049 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.04.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Complex aqueous emulsions represent a promising material platform for the encapsulation of cells, pharmaceuticals, or nutrients, for the fabrication of structured particles, as well as for mimicking the barrier-free compartmentalization of biomolecules found in living cells. Herein, we report a novel, simple, and scalable method of creating multicomponent aqueous droplets with highly uniform internal droplet morphologies that can be controllably altered after emulsification by making use of a thermal phase separation approach. Specifically, temperature-induced phase separation inside as-formed emulsion droplets comprising aqueous mixtures of two or more hydrophilic polymers allows for the generation of Janus and Cerberus emulsion droplets with adjustable internal morphologies that are solely controlled by a balance of interfacial tensions. We demonstrate our approach by applying both, microfluidic and scalable batch production, and present a detailed model study with predictive capabilities that enables fine-tuning and dynamically altering the droplet morphology as a function of types, molecular weights, and hydrophilicities of the polymers as well as the surfactant hydrophilic-lipophilic balance. The ability to rationally design complex aqueous emulsion droplets with previously unattainable dynamic control over their morphologies after emulsification entails the potential to design new responsive soft materials with implications for a variety of applications beyond encapsulation, including the design of complex adaptive and self-regulating materials, e.g. for chemical and biological sensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Pavlovic
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Markus Antonietti
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Lukas Zeininger
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
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Xie G, Forth J, Zhu S, Helms BA, Ashby PD, Shum HC, Russell TP. Hanging droplets from liquid surfaces. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:8360-8365. [PMID: 32220955 PMCID: PMC7165464 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1922045117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural and man-made robotic systems use the interfacial tension between two fluids to support dense objects on liquid surfaces. Here, we show that coacervate-encased droplets of an aqueous polymer solution can be hung from the surface of a less dense aqueous polymer solution using surface tension. The forces acting on and the shapes of the hanging droplets can be controlled. Sacs with homogeneous and heterogeneous surfaces are hung from the surface and, by capillary forces, form well-ordered arrays. Locomotion and rotation can be achieved by embedding magnetic microparticles within the assemblies. Direct contact of the droplet with air enables in situ manipulation and compartmentalized cascading chemical reactions with selective transport. Applications including functional microreactors, motors, and biomimetic robots are evident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganhua Xie
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Joe Forth
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, London WC1H 0AJ, United Kingdom
| | - Shipei Zhu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Brett A Helms
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Paul D Ashby
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Thomas P Russell
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720;
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
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31
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Ma Q, Song Y, Sun W, Cao J, Yuan H, Wang X, Sun Y, Shum HC. Cell-Inspired All-Aqueous Microfluidics: From Intracellular Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation toward Advanced Biomaterials. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2020; 7:1903359. [PMID: 32274317 PMCID: PMC7141073 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201903359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Living cells have evolved over billions of years to develop structural and functional complexity with numerous intracellular compartments that are formed due to liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Discovery of the amazing and vital roles of cells in life has sparked tremendous efforts to investigate and replicate the intracellular LLPS. Among them, all-aqueous emulsions are a minimalistic liquid model that recapitulates the structural and functional features of membraneless organelles and protocells. Here, an emerging all-aqueous microfluidic technology derived from micrometer-scaled manipulation of LLPS is presented; the technology enables the state-of-art design of advanced biomaterials with exquisite structural proficiency and diversified biological functions. Moreover, a variety of emerging biomedical applications, including encapsulation and delivery of bioactive gradients, fabrication of artificial membraneless organelles, as well as printing and assembly of predesigned cell patterns and living tissues, are inspired by their cellular counterparts. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for further advancing the cell-inspired all-aqueous microfluidics toward a more powerful and versatile platform are discussed, particularly regarding new opportunities in multidisciplinary fundamental research and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingming Ma
- Department of PharmaceuticsSchool of PharmacyQingdao UniversityQingdao266021China
| | - Yang Song
- Wallace H Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of Technology & Emory School of MedicineAtlantaGA30332USA
| | - Wentao Sun
- Center for Basic Medical ResearchTEDA International Cardiovascular HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical CollegeTianjin300457China
| | - Jie Cao
- Department of PharmaceuticsSchool of PharmacyQingdao UniversityQingdao266021China
| | - Hao Yuan
- Institute of Applied MechanicsNational Taiwan UniversityTaipei10617Taiwan
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Institute of Thermal Science and TechnologyShandong UniversityJinan250061China
| | - Yong Sun
- Department of PharmaceuticsSchool of PharmacyQingdao UniversityQingdao266021China
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Hong KongPokfulam RoadHong Kong
- HKU‐Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU‐SIRI)Shenzhen518000China
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Pavlovic M, Plucinski A, Zhang J, Antonietti M, Zeininger L, Schmidt BVKJ. Cascade Kinetics in an Enzyme-Loaded Aqueous Two-Phase System. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:1401-1408. [PMID: 31977224 PMCID: PMC7307955 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Macromolecular crowding plays a critical role in the kinetics of enzymatic reactions. Dynamic compartmentalization of biological components in living cells due to liquid-liquid phase separation represents an important cell regulatory mechanism that can increase enzyme concentration locally and influence the diffusion of substrates. In the present study, we probed partitioning of two enzymes (horseradish-peroxidase and urate-oxidase) in a poly(ethylene glycol)-dextran aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) as a function of salt concentration and ion position in the Hofmeister series. Moreover, we investigated enzymatic cascade reactions and their kinetics within the ATPS, which revealed a strong influence of the ion hydration stemming from the background electrolyte on the partitioning coefficients of proteins following the Hofmeister series. As a result, we were able to realize cross-partitioning of two enzymes because of different protein net charges at a chosen pH. Our study reveals a strong dependency of the enzyme activity on the substrate type and crowding agent interaction on the final kinetics of enzymatic reactions in the ATPS and therefore provides substantial implications en route toward dynamic regulation of reactivity in synthetic protocells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Pavlovic
- Department
of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute
of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Alexander Plucinski
- Department
of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute
of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
- School
of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Joseph Black Building, G128QQ Glasgow, U.K.
| | - Jianrui Zhang
- Department
of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute
of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Markus Antonietti
- Department
of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute
of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Lukas Zeininger
- Department
of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute
of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
- E-mail: (L.Z.)
| | - Bernhard V. K. J. Schmidt
- Department
of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute
of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
- School
of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Joseph Black Building, G128QQ Glasgow, U.K.
- E-mail: (B.V.K.J.S.)
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33
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Chao Y, Shum HC. Emerging aqueous two-phase systems: from fundamentals of interfaces to biomedical applications. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:114-142. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cs00466a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This review summarizes recent advances of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs), particularly their interfaces, with a focus on biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youchuang Chao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- The University of Hong Kong
- China
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- The University of Hong Kong
- China
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34
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Pavlovic M, Plucinski A, Zeininger L, Schmidt BVKJ. Temperature sensitive water-in-water emulsions. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:6814-6817. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cc02171g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Temperature sensitive water-in-water (W/W) emulsions are described utilizing the thermal induced conformation change of tailored thermoresponsive block copolymers to reversibly stabilize and destabilize water–water interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Pavlovic
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
- Department of Colloid Chemistry
- 14476 Potsdam
- Germany
| | | | - Lukas Zeininger
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
- Department of Colloid Chemistry
- 14476 Potsdam
- Germany
| | - Bernhard V. K. J. Schmidt
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
- Department of Colloid Chemistry
- 14476 Potsdam
- Germany
- School of Chemistry
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35
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Luo G, Yu Y, Yuan Y, Chen X, Liu Z, Kong T. Freeform, Reconfigurable Embedded Printing of All-Aqueous 3D Architectures. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1904631. [PMID: 31609497 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201904631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Aqueous microstructures are challenging to create, handle, and preserve since their surfaces tend to shrink into spherical shapes with minimum surface areas. The creation of freeform aqueous architectures will significantly advance the bioprinting of complex tissue-like constructs, such as arteries, urinary catheters, and tracheae. The generation of complex, freeform, three-dimensional (3D) all-liquid architectures using formulated aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) is demonstrated. These all-liquid microconstructs are formed by printing aqueous bioinks in an immiscible aqueous environment, which functions as a biocompatible support and pregel solution. By exploiting the hydrogen bonding interaction between polymers in ATPS, the printed aqueous-in-aqueous reconfigurable 3D architectures can be stabilized for weeks by the noncovalent membrane at the interface. Different cells can be separately combined with compartmentalized bioinks and matrices to obtain tailor-designed microconstructs with perfusable vascular networks. The freeform, reconfigurable embedded printing of all-liquid architectures by ATPSs offers unique opportunities and powerful tools since limitless formulations can be designed from among a breadth of natural and synthetic hydrophilic polymers to mimic tissues. This printing approach may be useful to engineer biomimetic, dynamic tissue-like constructs for potential applications in drug screening, in vitro tissue models, and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanyi Luo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Yafeng Yu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Yuxue Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Xue Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Gui Lin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Zhou Liu
- 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
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36
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37
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Xia Y, Na X, Wu J, Ma G. The Horizon of the Emulsion Particulate Strategy: Engineering Hollow Particles for Biomedical Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1801159. [PMID: 30260511 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201801159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
With their hierarchical structures and the substantial surface areas, hollow particles have gained immense research interest in biomedical applications. For scalable fabrications, emulsion-based approaches have emerged as facile and versatile strategies. Here, the recent achievements in this field are unfolded via an "emulsion particulate strategy," which addresses the inherent relationship between the process control and the bioactive structures. As such, the interior architectures are manipulated by harnessing the intermediate state during the emulsion revolution (intrinsic strategy), whereas the external structures are dictated by tailoring the building blocks and solidification procedures of the Pickering emulsion (extrinsic strategy). Through integration of the intrinsic and extrinsic emulsion particulate strategy, multifunctional hollow particles demonstrate marked momentum for label-free multiplex detections, stimuli-responsive therapies, and stem cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Xiangming Na
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jie Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- PLA Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Production & Formulation Engineering Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Guanghui Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- PLA Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Production & Formulation Engineering Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, Nanjing, 211816, P. R. China
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Forth J, Kim PY, Xie G, Liu X, Helms BA, Russell TP. Building Reconfigurable Devices Using Complex Liquid-Fluid Interfaces. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1806370. [PMID: 30828869 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201806370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-fluid interfaces provide a platform both for structuring liquids into complex shapes and assembling dimensionally confined, functional nanomaterials. Historically, attention in this area has focused on simple emulsions and foams, in which surface-active materials such as surfactants or colloids stabilize structures against coalescence and alter the mechanical properties of the interface. In recent decades, however, a growing body of work has begun to demonstrate the full potential of the assembly of nanomaterials at liquid-fluid interfaces to generate functionally advanced, biomimetic systems. Here, a broad overview is given, from fundamentals to applications, of the use of liquid-fluid interfaces to generate complex, all-liquid devices with a myriad of potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Forth
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Paul Y Kim
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Ganhua Xie
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, 120 Governors Drive, Conte Center for Polymer Research, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Xubo Liu
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Brett A Helms
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Thomas P Russell
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, 120 Governors Drive, Conte Center for Polymer Research, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
- WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
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39
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Shi S, Russell TP. Nanoparticle Assembly at Liquid-Liquid Interfaces: From the Nanoscale to Mesoscale. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1800714. [PMID: 30035834 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201800714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
In the past few decades, novel syntheses of a wide range of nanoparticles (NPs) with well-defined chemical composition and structure have opened tremendous opportunities in areas ranging from optical and electronic devices to biomedical markers. Controlling the assembly of such well-defined NPs is important to effectively harness their unique properties. The assembly of NPs at liquid-liquid interfaces is becoming a central topic both in surface and colloid science. Hierarchical structures, including 2D films, 3D capsules, and structured liquids, have been generating significant interest and are showing promise for physical, chemical, and biological applications. Here, a brief overview of the development of the self-assembly of NPs at liquid-liquid interfaces is provided, from theory to experiment, from synthetic NPs to bio-nanoparticles, from water-oil to water-water, and from "liquid-like" to "solid-like" assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaowei Shi
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Thomas P Russell
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
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40
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On the shear stability of water-in-water Pickering emulsions stabilized with silica nanoparticles. J Colloid Interface Sci 2018; 532:83-91. [PMID: 30077068 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.07.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Water-in-water (w/w) emulsions are known for their low interfacial tensions (IFT) which makes their stability to shear questionable. This is because of low particle attachment energies, which can be just a few kT. Therefore, emulsions stabilized with larger particles should display greater stability to shear because of larger attachment energies (10-100 or more kT). This is typically not an issue with traditional oil-in-water Pickering emulsions because particle attachment energies are much larger due to higher interfacial tensions, even when very small particles are used. EXPERIMENTS Silica nanoparticles were silanized with 2-(methoxy(polyethyleneoxy)6-9propyl)trimethoxysilane (PEG-silane) to aid in emulsion stabilization. The phase behavior of an aqueous, two-phase system consisting of 20,000 g mol-1 polyethylene glycol (PEG) and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) was characterized. Optical microscopy was used to characterize the static properties of the particle stabilized emulsions and shear rheology was used to study the stability of emulsions stabilized with 6 nm and 50 nm PEG-silane functionalized particles. RESULTS We demonstrated that silica nanoparticles silanized with PEG-silane can stabilize MgSO4 drops to produce MgSO4-in-PEG emulsions. We found emulsions stabilized with 6 wt% particles, regardless of particle size (6 nm or 50 nm), had similar viscosities, emulsion drop size, and were statically stable for one week. Emulsion drops stabilized with 6 wt% 50 nm particles doubled in size after 80 min of shear at 10 s-1 whereas those stabilized with 6 wt% 6 nm particles required only 25 min to double in size. We attribute these differences in doubling time to the larger particle attachment energies associated with the 50 nm particles.
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Forth J, Liu X, Hasnain J, Toor A, Miszta K, Shi S, Geissler PL, Emrick T, Helms BA, Russell TP. Reconfigurable Printed Liquids. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1707603. [PMID: 29573293 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201707603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Liquids lack the spatial order required for advanced functionality. Interfacial assemblies of colloids, however, can be used to shape liquids into complex, 3D objects, simultaneously forming 2D layers with novel magnetic, plasmonic, or structural properties. Fully exploiting all-liquid systems that are structured by their interfaces would create a new class of biomimetic, reconfigurable, and responsive materials. Here, printed constructs of water in oil are presented. Both form and function are given to the system by the assembly and jamming of nanoparticle surfactants, formed from the interfacial interaction of nanoparticles and amphiphilic polymers that bear complementary functional groups. These yield dissipative constructs that exhibit a compartmentalized response to chemical cues. Potential applications include biphasic reaction vessels, liquid electronics, novel media for the encapsulation of cells and active matter, and dynamic constructs that both alter, and are altered by, their external environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Forth
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Xubo Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Jaffar Hasnain
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Anju Toor
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Karol Miszta
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Shaowei Shi
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Phillip L Geissler
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Todd Emrick
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, Conte Center for Polymer Research, University of Massachusetts, 120 Governors Drive, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Brett A Helms
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Thomas P Russell
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, Conte Center for Polymer Research, University of Massachusetts, 120 Governors Drive, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
- WPI - Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
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42
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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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