1
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Maiti A, Koyano Y, Kitahata H, Dey KK. Activity-induced diffusion recovery in crowded colloidal suspensions. Phys Rev E 2024; 109:054607. [PMID: 38907422 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.109.054607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
We show that the forces generated by active enzyme molecules are strong enough to influence the dynamics of their surroundings under artificial crowded environments. We measured the behavior of polymer microparticles in a quasi-two-dimensional system under aqueous environment, at various area fraction values of particles. In the presence of enzymatic activity, not only was the diffusion of the suspended particles enhanced at shorter time-scales, but the system also showed a transition from subdiffusive to diffusive dynamics at longer time-scale limits. Similar observations were also recorded with enzyme-functionalized microparticles. Brownian dynamics simulations have been performed to support the experimental observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnab Maiti
- Laboratory of Soft and Living Materials, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382055, India
| | - Yuki Koyano
- Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, 3-11 Tsurukabuto, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-0011, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kitahata
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Yayoi-cho 1-33, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Krishna Kanti Dey
- Laboratory of Soft and Living Materials, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382055, India
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2
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Maffeis V, Heuberger L, Nikoletić A, Schoenenberger C, Palivan CG. Synthetic Cells Revisited: Artificial Cells Construction Using Polymeric Building Blocks. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2305837. [PMID: 37984885 PMCID: PMC10885666 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202305837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The exponential growth of research on artificial cells and organelles underscores their potential as tools to advance the understanding of fundamental biological processes. The bottom-up construction from a variety of building blocks at the micro- and nanoscale, in combination with biomolecules is key to developing artificial cells. In this review, artificial cells are focused upon based on compartments where polymers are the main constituent of the assembly. Polymers are of particular interest due to their incredible chemical variety and the advantage of tuning the properties and functionality of their assemblies. First, the architectures of micro- and nanoscale polymer assemblies are introduced and then their usage as building blocks is elaborated upon. Different membrane-bound and membrane-less compartments and supramolecular structures and how they combine into advanced synthetic cells are presented. Then, the functional aspects are explored, addressing how artificial organelles in giant compartments mimic cellular processes. Finally, how artificial cells communicate with their surrounding and each other such as to adapt to an ever-changing environment and achieve collective behavior as a steppingstone toward artificial tissues, is taken a look at. Engineering artificial cells with highly controllable and programmable features open new avenues for the development of sophisticated multifunctional systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Maffeis
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of BaselMattenstrasse 22BaselCH‐4002Switzerland
- NCCR‐Molecular Systems EngineeringBPR 1095, Mattenstrasse 24aBaselCH‐4058Switzerland
| | - Lukas Heuberger
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of BaselMattenstrasse 22BaselCH‐4002Switzerland
| | - Anamarija Nikoletić
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of BaselMattenstrasse 22BaselCH‐4002Switzerland
- Swiss Nanoscience InstituteUniversity of BaselKlingelbergstrasse 82BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
| | | | - Cornelia G. Palivan
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of BaselMattenstrasse 22BaselCH‐4002Switzerland
- NCCR‐Molecular Systems EngineeringBPR 1095, Mattenstrasse 24aBaselCH‐4058Switzerland
- Swiss Nanoscience InstituteUniversity of BaselKlingelbergstrasse 82BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
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3
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Ramos Docampo MA, Hovorka O, Städler B. Magnetic micromotors crossing lipid membranes. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:2432-2443. [PMID: 38226699 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr05462d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Nano/micromotors are self-propelled particles that show enhanced motion upon being triggered by a stimulus. Their use in nanomedicine has been widely explored, with special focus on imaging or drug delivery. However, a thorough understanding of the requirements for more efficient locomotion is still lacking. In this paper, we assembled magnetically propelled motors of different sizes (i.e., 0.5, 1 and 4 μm) and surface chemistries (positive charge or PEGylated) and assessed their motion in the presence of giant unilamellar lipid vesicles (GUVs) of varying compositions (zwitterionic, negatively charged and saturated lipids). Unexpectedly, the size does not seem to be the dominating characteristics that governs the ability of the motors to cross lipid membranes. Specifically, the 0.5 μm PEGylated motors have very limited ability to cross the lipid membrane of GUVs due to their non-interacting nature compared to their equally sized positively charged counterparts. Furthermore, membranes made of saturated lipids and, in particular, in combination with a weak magnetic field facilitate motors' crossing, regardless of their size. The results were validated by in-house data-driven statistical analysis that employs experimental data to allow for the identification of individual motor motion in the ensemble when meeting the lipid membranes. Altogether, we provide insight into motor locomotion when they interact with a biological barrier considering both the entire ensemble and the individual motors, which has the potential to support considerations of future motor designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Ramos Docampo
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Ondrej Hovorka
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, SO16 7QF, Southampton, UK
| | - Brigitte Städler
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
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4
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Llopis-Lorente A, Schotman MJG, Humeniuk HV, van Hest JCM, Dankers PYW, Abdelmohsen LKEA. Artificial cells with viscoadaptive behavior based on hydrogel-loaded giant unilamellar vesicles. Chem Sci 2024; 15:629-638. [PMID: 38179539 PMCID: PMC10763548 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc04687g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Viscoadaptation is an essential process in natural cells, where supramolecular interactions between cytosolic components drive adaptation of the cellular mechanical features to regulate metabolic function. This important relationship between mechanical properties and function has until now been underexplored in artificial cell research. Here, we have created an artificial cell platform that exploits internal supramolecular interactions to display viscoadaptive behavior. As supramolecular material to mimic the cytosolic component of these artificial cells, we employed a pH-switchable hydrogelator based on poly(ethylene glycol) coupled to ureido-pyrimidinone units. The hydrogelator was membranized in its sol state in giant unilamellar lipid vesicles to include a cell-membrane mimetic component. The resulting hydrogelator-loaded giant unilamellar vesicles (designated as HL-GUVs) displayed reversible pH-switchable sol-gel behavior through multiple cycles. Furthermore, incorporation of the regulatory enzyme urease enabled us to increase the cytosolic pH upon conversion of its substrate urea. The system was able to switch between a high viscosity (at neutral pH) and a low viscosity (at basic pH) state upon addition of substrate. Finally, viscoadaptation was achieved via the incorporation of a second enzyme of which the activity was governed by the viscosity of the artificial cell. This work represents a new approach to install functional self-regulation in artificial cells, and opens new possibilities for the creation of complex artificial cells that mimic the structural and functional interplay found in biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoni Llopis-Lorente
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Chemistry, Laboratory of Bio-Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology Het Kranenveld 14 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology Het Kranenveld 14, Eindhoven 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
- Instituto Interuniversitario de Investigación de Reconocimiento Molecular y Desarrollo Tecnológico, CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Universitat Politècnica de València, Universitat de València Camino de Vera s/n 46022 València Spain
| | - Maaike J G Schotman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven, Het Kranenveld 14 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology Het Kranenveld 14, Eindhoven 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - Heorhii V Humeniuk
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Chemistry, Laboratory of Bio-Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology Het Kranenveld 14 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology Het Kranenveld 14, Eindhoven 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - Jan C M van Hest
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Chemistry, Laboratory of Bio-Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology Het Kranenveld 14 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven, Het Kranenveld 14 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology Het Kranenveld 14, Eindhoven 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - Patricia Y W Dankers
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven, Het Kranenveld 14 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology Het Kranenveld 14, Eindhoven 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - Loai K E A Abdelmohsen
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Chemistry, Laboratory of Bio-Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology Het Kranenveld 14 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology Het Kranenveld 14, Eindhoven 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
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5
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Wang X, Qiao X, Chen H, Wang L, Liu X, Huang X. Synthetic-Cell-Based Multi-Compartmentalized Hierarchical Systems. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2201712. [PMID: 37069779 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202201712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In the extant lifeforms, the self-sustaining behaviors refer to various well-organized biochemical reactions in spatial confinement, which rely on compartmentalization to integrate and coordinate the molecularly crowded intracellular environment and complicated reaction networks in living/synthetic cells. Therefore, the biological phenomenon of compartmentalization has become an essential theme in the field of synthetic cell engineering. Recent progress in the state-of-the-art of synthetic cells has indicated that multi-compartmentalized synthetic cells should be developed to obtain more advanced structures and functions. Herein, two ways of developing multi-compartmentalized hierarchical systems, namely interior compartmentalization of synthetic cells (organelles) and integration of synthetic cell communities (synthetic tissues), are summarized. Examples are provided for different construction strategies employed in the above-mentioned engineering ways, including spontaneous compartmentalization in vesicles, host-guest nesting, phase separation mediated multiphase, adhesion-mediated assembly, programmed arrays, and 3D printing. Apart from exhibiting advanced structures and functions, synthetic cells are also applied as biomimetic materials. Finally, key challenges and future directions regarding the development of multi-compartmentalized hierarchical systems are summarized; these are expected to lay the foundation for the creation of a "living" synthetic cell as well as provide a larger platform for developing new biomimetic materials in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoliang Wang
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
| | - Xin Qiao
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
| | - Haixu Chen
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
| | - Lei Wang
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoman Liu
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
| | - Xin Huang
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China
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6
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Lin Z, Beneyton T, Baret JC, Martin N. Coacervate Droplets for Synthetic Cells. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300496. [PMID: 37462244 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The design and construction of synthetic cells - human-made microcompartments that mimic features of living cells - have experienced a real boom in the past decade. While many efforts have been geared toward assembling membrane-bounded compartments, coacervate droplets produced by liquid-liquid phase separation have emerged as an alternative membrane-free compartmentalization paradigm. Here, the dual role of coacervate droplets in synthetic cell research is discussed: encapsulated within membrane-enclosed compartments, coacervates act as surrogates of membraneless organelles ubiquitously found in living cells; alternatively, they can be viewed as crowded cytosol-like chassis for constructing integrated synthetic cells. After introducing key concepts of coacervation and illustrating the chemical diversity of coacervate systems, their physicochemical properties and resulting bioinspired functions are emphasized. Moving from suspensions of free floating coacervates, the two nascent roles of these droplets in synthetic cell research are highlighted: organelle-like modules and cytosol-like templates. Building the discussion on recent studies from the literature, the potential of coacervate droplets to assemble integrated synthetic cells capable of multiple life-inspired functions is showcased. Future challenges that are still to be tackled in the field are finally discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi Lin
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, UMR5031, 115 avenue du Dr. Schweitzer, 33600, Pessac, France
| | - Thomas Beneyton
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, UMR5031, 115 avenue du Dr. Schweitzer, 33600, Pessac, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Baret
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, UMR5031, 115 avenue du Dr. Schweitzer, 33600, Pessac, France
| | - Nicolas Martin
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, UMR5031, 115 avenue du Dr. Schweitzer, 33600, Pessac, France
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7
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Chen C, Wu S, Wang Y, Cao J, Tian L. Reversible modulation of protocell volume via collective response of functional protein in its membrane. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 651:182-190. [PMID: 37542893 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.07.184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Volume change plays an important role in biological cells to regulate their internal microenvironment. To adapt to the rapid variation of the surface area during the volume change, the lipid membrane is dynamically modulated via membrane folding invagination, or spontaneous uptake or release of lipid molecules under osmotic pressure. Here, we demonstrate an alternative approach to design a functional protocellular system capable of dynamically adjusting its volume and intracellular microenvironment in response to the alteration of pH. By assembling and subsequently cross-linking pH-responsive caseinate at the water-oil interface, the caseinate-based protocell with more than ten thousand caseinate units in its membrane was established and showed a reversible volume and pore size change to pH variation due to the collective response of the caseinate in the membrane, which could be used to control the spatial distribution of proto-organelle by regulating of the viscosity inside the protocell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Innovation Center for Smart Medical Technologies & Devices, Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Shuqi Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Ying Wang
- School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China.
| | - Jinxuan Cao
- School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Liangfei Tian
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Innovation Center for Smart Medical Technologies & Devices, Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310053, China; Department of Ultrasound, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
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8
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Lu T, Javed S, Bonfio C, Spruijt E. Interfacing Coacervates with Membranes: From Artificial Organelles and Hybrid Protocells to Intracellular Delivery. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300294. [PMID: 37354057 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Compartmentalization is crucial for the functioning of cells. Membranes enclose and protect the cell, regulate the transport of molecules entering and exiting the cell, and organize cellular machinery in subcompartments. In addition, membraneless condensates, or coacervates, offer dynamic compartments that act as biomolecular storage centers, organizational hubs, or reaction crucibles. Emerging evidence shows that phase-separated membraneless bodies in the cell are involved in a wide range of functional interactions with cellular membranes, leading to transmembrane signaling, membrane remodeling, intracellular transport, and vesicle formation. Such functional and dynamic interplay between phase-separated droplets and membranes also offers many potential benefits to artificial cells, as shown by recent studies involving coacervates and liposomes. Depending on the relative sizes and interaction strength between coacervates and membranes, coacervates can serve as artificial membraneless organelles inside liposomes, as templates for membrane assembly and hybrid artificial cell formation, as membrane remodelers for tubulation and possibly division, and finally, as cargo containers for transport and delivery of biomolecules across membranes by endocytosis or direct membrane crossing. Here, recent experimental examples of each of these functions are reviewed and the underlying physicochemical principles and possible future applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiemei Lu
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Sadaf Javed
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia Bonfio
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), CNRS UMR 7006, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, 67083, France
| | - Evan Spruijt
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
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9
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Cherayil BJ. Survival probabilities and first-passage distributions of self-propelled particles in spherical cavities. Phys Rev E 2023; 108:054607. [PMID: 38115486 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.108.054607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
A model of self-propelled motion in a closed compartment containing simple or complex fluids is formulated in this paper in terms of the dynamics of a point particle moving in a spherical cavity under the action of random thermal forces and exponentially correlated noise. The particle's time evolution is governed by a generalized Langevin equation (GLE) in which the memory function, connected to the thermal forces by a fluctuation-dissipation relation, is described by Jeffrey's model of viscoelasticity (which reduces to a model of ordinary viscous dynamics in a suitable limit). The GLE is transformed exactly to a Fokker-Planck equation that in spherical polar coordinates is in turn found to admit of an exact solution for the particle's probability density function under absorbing boundary conditions at the surface of the sphere. The solution is used to derive an expression (that is also exact) for the survival probability of the particle in the sphere, starting from its center, which is then used to calculate the distribution of the particle's first-passage times to the boundary. The behavior of these quantities is investigated as a function of the Péclet number and the persistence time of the athermal forces, providing insight into the effects of nonequilibrium fluctuations on confined particle motion in three dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binny J Cherayil
- Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India
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10
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Shrivastava A, Du Y, Adepu HK, Li R, Madhvacharyula AS, Swett AA, Choi JH. Motility of Synthetic Cells from Engineered Lipids. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:2789-2801. [PMID: 37729546 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic cells are artificial systems that resemble natural cells. Significant efforts have been made over the years to construct synthetic protocells that can mimic biological mechanisms and perform various complex processes. These include compartmentalization, metabolism, energy supply, communication, and gene reproduction. Cell motility is also of great importance, as nature uses elegant mechanisms for intracellular trafficking, immune response, and embryogenesis. In this review, we discuss the motility of synthetic cells made from lipid vesicles and relevant molecular mechanisms. Synthetic cell motion may be classified into surface-based or solution-based depending on whether it involves interactions with surfaces or movement in fluids. Collective migration behaviors have also been demonstrated. The swarm motion requires additional mechanisms for intercellular signaling and directional motility that enable communication and coordination among the synthetic vesicles. In addition, intracellular trafficking for molecular transport has been reconstituted in minimal cells with the help of DNA nanotechnology. These efforts demonstrate synthetic cells that can move, detect, respond, and interact. We envision that new developments in protocell motility will enhance our understanding of biological processes and be instrumental in bioengineering and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishwary Shrivastava
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 585 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Yancheng Du
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 585 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Harshith K Adepu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 585 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Ruixin Li
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 585 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Anirudh S Madhvacharyula
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 585 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Alexander A Swett
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering, 701 W. Stadium Avenue, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Jong Hyun Choi
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 585 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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11
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Ghosh C, Ghosh S, Chatterjee A, Bera P, Mampallil D, Ghosh P, Das D. Dual enzyme-powered chemotactic cross β amyloid based functional nanomotors. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5903. [PMID: 37737223 PMCID: PMC10516904 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41301-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanomotor chassis constructed from biological precursors and powered by biocatalytic transformations can offer important applications in the future, specifically in emergent biomedical techniques. Herein, cross β amyloid peptide-based nanomotors (amylobots) were prepared from short amyloid peptides. Owing to their remarkable binding capabilities, these soft constructs are able to host dedicated enzymes to catalyze orthogonal substrates for motility and navigation. Urease helps in powering the self-diffusiophoretic motion, while cytochrome C helps in providing navigation control. Supported by the simulation model, the design principle demonstrates the utilization of two distinct transport behaviours for two different types of enzymes, firstly enhanced diffusivity of urease with increasing fuel (urea) concentration and secondly, chemotactic motility of cytochrome C towards its substrate (pyrogallol). Dual catalytic engines allow the amylobots to be utilized for enhanced catalysis in organic solvent and can thus complement the technological applications of enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandranath Ghosh
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Souvik Ghosh
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Ayan Chatterjee
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Palash Bera
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Hyderabad, Telangana, 500046, India
| | - Dileep Mampallil
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Mangalam, Andhra Pradesh, 517507, India
| | - Pushpita Ghosh
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695551, India
| | - Dibyendu Das
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India.
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12
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Zhang Z, Chen H, Hu M, Wang D. Single-Molecule Tracking of Reagent Diffusion during Chemical Reactions. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:10512-10521. [PMID: 37079767 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c13172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Recent experiments have shown that the diffusion of reagent molecules is inconsistent with what the Stokes-Einstein equation predicts during a chemical reaction. Here, we used single-molecule tracking to observe the diffusion of reactive reagent molecules during click and Diels-Alder (DA) reactions. We found that the diffusion coefficient of the reagents remained unchanged within the experimental uncertainty upon the DA reaction. Yet, diffusion of reagent molecules is faster than predicted during the click reaction when the reagent concentration and catalyst concentration exceed a threshold. A stepwise analysis suggested that the fast diffusion scenario is due to the reaction but not the involvement of the tracer with the reaction itself. The present results provide experimental evidence on the faster-than-expected reagent diffusion during a CuAAC reaction in specific conditions and propose new insights into understanding this unexpected behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengfu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, Jilin, P. R. China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Hongbo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Ming Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, Jilin, P. R. China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Dapeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, Jilin, P. R. China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, P. R. China
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