1
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Chen Y, Xu J, Li P, Shi L, Zhang S, Guo Q, Yang Y. Advances in the use of local anesthetic extended-release systems in pain management. Drug Deliv 2024; 31:2296349. [PMID: 38130151 PMCID: PMC10763865 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2023.2296349] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Pain management remains among the most common and largely unmet clinical problems today. Local anesthetics play an indispensable role in pain management. The main limitation of traditional local anesthetics is the limited duration of a single injection. To address this problem, catheters are often placed or combined with other drugs in clinical practice to increase the time that local anesthetics act. However, this method does not meet the needs of clinical analgesics. Therefore, many researchers have worked to develop local anesthetic extended-release types that can be administered in a single dose. In recent years, drug extended-release systems have emerged dramatically due to their long duration and efficacy, providing more possibilities for the application of local anesthetics. This paper summarizes the types of local anesthetic drug delivery systems and their clinical applications, discusses them in the context of relevant studies on local anesthetics, and provides a summary and outlook on the development of local anesthetic extended-release agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulu Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jingmei Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ping Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Liyang Shi
- College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Sha Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qulian Guo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yong Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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2
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Rosso AP, de Oliveira FA, Guégan P, Jager E, Giacomelli FC. Evaluation of polymersome permeability as a fundamental aspect towards the development of artificial cells and nanofactories. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 671:88-99. [PMID: 38795537 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.05.133] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Polymersomes are synthetic vesicles with potential use in healthcare, chemical transformations in confined environment (nanofactories), and in the construction of artificial cells and organelles. In this framework, one of the most important features of such supramolecular structures is the permeability behavior allowing for selective control of mass exchange between the inner and outer compartments. The use of biological and synthetic nanopores in this regard is the most common strategy to impart permeability nevertheless, this typically requires fairly complex strategies to enable porosity. Yet, investigations concerning the permeability of polymer vesicles to different analytes still requires further exploration and, taking these considerations into account, we have detailed investigated the permeability behavior of a variety of polymersomes with regard to different analytes (water, protons, and rhodamine B) which were selected as models for solvents, ions, and small molecules. Polymersomes based on hydrophilic blocks of poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (PHPMA) or PEO (poly(ethylene oxide)) linked to the non-responsive blocks poly[N-(4-isopropylphenylacetamide)ethyl methacrylate] (PPPhA) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), or to the stimuli pH-responsive block poly[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDPA) have been investigated. Interestingly, the produced PEO-based vesicles are notably larger than the ones produced using PHPMA-containing block copolymers. The experimental results reveal that all the vesicles are inherently permeable to some extent with permeability behavior following exponential profiles. Nevertheless, polymersomes based on PMMA as the hydrophobic component were demonstrated to be the least permeable to the small molecule rhodamine B as well as to water. The synthetic vesicles based on the pH-responsive PDPA block exhibited restrictive and notably slow proton permeability as attributed to partial chain protonation upon acidification of the medium. The dye permeability was evidenced to be much slower than ion or solvent diffusion, and in the case of pH-responsive assemblies, it was demonstrated to also depend on the ionic strength of the environment. These findings are understood to be highly relevant towards polymer selection for the production of synthetic vesicles with selective and time-dependent permeability, and it may thus contribute in advancing biomimicry and nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabella P Rosso
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, Brazil
| | | | - Philippe Guégan
- Equipe Chimie des Polymères, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (UMR-CNRS 8232), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Eliezer Jager
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Fernando C Giacomelli
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, Brazil.
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3
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Wong CK, Lai RY, Stenzel MH. Polymersomes with micellar patches. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 671:449-456. [PMID: 38815380 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.05.177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Hollow block copolymer particles called polymer vesicles (polymersomes) serve as versatile containers for compartmentalization in synthetic biology and drug delivery. Recently, there has been growing interest in using polymersomes as colloidal building blocks for creating higher-order clustered structures. Most reports thus far rely on the use of DNA base-pairing interactions to "glue" polymersomes with other colloidal components. In this study, we present two alternative electrostatically driven approaches to assemble polymersomes and model colloids (micelles) into hybrid clusters. The first approach uses pH to manipulate electrostatic interactions and effectively control the clustering extent of micellar subunits on polymersomes, while the second approach relies on the hydrolysis of an acid trigger, glucono delta-lactone (GDL), to introduce temporal control over clustering. We envisage our approaches and structures reported herein will help inspire the creation of new prospects for materials science and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin Ken Wong
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney 2052, NSW, Australia.
| | - Rebecca Y Lai
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney 2052, NSW, Australia
| | - Martina H Stenzel
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney 2052, NSW, Australia.
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4
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Skowicki M, Tarvirdipour S, Kraus M, Schoenenberger CA, Palivan CG. Nanoassemblies designed for efficient nuclear targeting. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 211:115354. [PMID: 38857762 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2024.115354] [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: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
One of the key aspects of coping efficiently with complex pathological conditions is delivering the desired therapeutic compounds with precision in both space and time. Therefore, the focus on nuclear-targeted delivery systems has emerged as a promising strategy with high potential, particularly in gene therapy and cancer treatment. Here, we explore the design of supramolecular nanoassemblies as vehicles to deliver specific compounds to the nucleus, with the special focus on polymer and peptide-based carriers that expose nuclear localization signals. Such nanoassemblies aim at maximizing the concentration of genetic and therapeutic agents within the nucleus, thereby optimizing treatment outcomes while minimizing off-target effects. A complex scenario of conditions, including cellular uptake, endosomal escape, and nuclear translocation, requires fine tuning of the nanocarriers' properties. First, we introduce the principles of nuclear import and the role of nuclear pore complexes that reveal strategies for targeting nanosystems to the nucleus. Then, we provide an overview of cargoes that rely on nuclear localization for optimal activity as their integrity and accumulation are crucial parameters to consider when designing a suitable delivery system. Considering that they are in their early stages of research, we present various cargo-loaded peptide- and polymer nanoassemblies that promote nuclear targeting, emphasizing their potential to enhance therapeutic response. Finally, we briefly discuss further advancements for more precise and effective nuclear delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Skowicki
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 22, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; NCCR-Molecular Systems Engineering, BPR 1095, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Shabnam Tarvirdipour
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 22, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Manuel Kraus
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 22, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cora-Ann Schoenenberger
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 22, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; NCCR-Molecular Systems Engineering, BPR 1095, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Cornelia G Palivan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 22, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; NCCR-Molecular Systems Engineering, BPR 1095, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
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5
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Bouazzaoui A, Abdellatif AA. Vaccine delivery systems and administration routes: Advanced biotechnological techniques to improve the immunization efficacy. Vaccine X 2024; 19:100500. [PMID: 38873639 PMCID: PMC11170481 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2024.100500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the first use of vaccine tell the last COVID-19 pandemic caused by spread of SARS-CoV-2 worldwide, the use of advanced biotechnological techniques has accelerated the development of different types and methods for immunization. The last pandemic showed that the nucleic acid-based vaccine, especially mRNA, has an advantage in terms of development time; however, it showed a very critical drawback namely, the higher costs when compared to other strategies, and its inability to protect against new variants. This showed the need of more improvement to reach a better delivery and efficacy. In this review we will describe different vaccine delivery systems including, the most used viral vector, and also variable strategies for delivering of nucleic acid-based vaccines especially lipid-based nanoparticles formulation, polymersomes, electroporation and also the new powerful tools for the delivery of mRNA, which is based on the use of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). Additionally, we will also discuss the main challenges associated with each system. Finlay, the efficacy and safety of the vaccines depends not only on the formulations and delivery systems, but also the dosage and route of administration are also important players, therefore we will see the different routes for the vaccine administration including traditionally routes (intramuscular, Transdermal, subcutaneous), oral inhalation or via nasal mucosa, and will describe the advantages and disadvantage of each administration route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdellatif Bouazzaoui
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 715, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
- Science and Technology Unit, Umm Al Qura University, P.O. Box 715, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed A.H. Abdellatif
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, 51452 Qassim, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, 71524 Assiut, Egypt
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6
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Huang J, Jaekel A, van den Boom J, Podlesainski D, Elnaggar M, Heuer-Jungemann A, Kaiser M, Meyer H, Saccà B. A modular DNA origami nanocompartment for engineering a cell-free, protein unfolding and degradation pathway. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024:10.1038/s41565-024-01738-7. [PMID: 39075293 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-024-01738-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Within the cell, chemical reactions are often confined and organized through a modular architecture. This facilitates the targeted localization of molecular species and their efficient translocation to subsequent sites. Here we present a cell-free nanoscale model that exploits compartmentalization strategies to carry out regulated protein unfolding and degradation. Our synthetic model comprises two connected DNA origami nanocompartments (each measuring 25 nm × 41 nm × 53 nm): one containing the protein unfolding machine, p97, and the other housing the protease chymotrypsin. We achieve the unidirectional immobilization of p97 within the first compartment, establishing a gateway mechanism that controls substrate recruitment, translocation and processing within the second compartment. Our data show that, whereas spatial confinement increases the rate of the individual reactions by up to tenfold, the physical connection of the compartmentalized enzymes into a chimera efficiently couples the two reactions and reduces off-target proteolysis by almost sixfold. Hence, our modular approach may serve as a blueprint for engineering artificial nanofactories with reshaped catalytic performance and functionalities beyond those observed in natural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Huang
- Bionanotechnology, CENIDE and ZMB, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - A Jaekel
- Bionanotechnology, CENIDE and ZMB, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - J van den Boom
- Molecular Biology, ZMB, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - D Podlesainski
- Chemical Biology, ZMB, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - M Elnaggar
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - M Kaiser
- Chemical Biology, ZMB, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - H Meyer
- Molecular Biology, ZMB, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - B Saccà
- Bionanotechnology, CENIDE and ZMB, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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7
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Wei Y, Weng X, Wang Y, Yang W. Stimuli-Responsive Polymersomes: Reshaping the Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment. Biomacromolecules 2024. [PMID: 39054960 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
The progression of cancer involves mutations in normal cells, leading to uncontrolled division and tissue destruction, highlighting the complexity of tumor microenvironments (TMEs). Immunotherapy has emerged as a transformative approach, yet the balance between efficacy and safety remains a challenge. Nanoparticles such as polymersomes offer the possibility to precisely target tumors, deliver drugs in a controlled way, effectively modulate the antitumor immunity, and notably reduce side effects. Herein, stimuli-responsive polymersomes, with capabilities for carrying multiple therapeutics, are highlighted for their potential in enhancing antitumor immunity through mechanisms like inducing immunogenic cell death and activating STING (stimulator of interferon genes), etc. The recent progress of utilizing stimuli-responsive polymersomes to reshape the TME is reviewed here. The advantages and limitations to applied stimuli-responsive polymersomes are outlined. Additionally, challenges and future prospects in leveraging polymersomes for cancer therapy are discussed, emphasizing the need for future research and clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaohua Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xiao Weng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Henan Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine for Targeting Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001 China
| | - Yayun Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Henan Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine for Targeting Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001 China
| | - Weijing Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Henan Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine for Targeting Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001 China
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8
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Liu F, Qu P, Weiss J, Guo K, Weck M. Substrate Channeling in Compartmentalized Nanoreactors. Macromolecules 2024; 57:6805-6815. [PMID: 39071043 PMCID: PMC11270995 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.4c00697] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Thermo- and photoresponsive nanoreactors based on shell cross-linked micelles (SCMs) for the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of ketones have been developed from poly(2-oxazoline) triblock terpolymers. The nanoreactors incorporate thermoresponsive poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) as the hydrophilic corona and are covalently cross-linked with a photoswitchable spiropyran molecule. UV irradiation or changes in temperature trigger morphology switching of the polymer-based nanoreactors that alters the hydrophobicity in separate layers of the SCMs, resulting in dynamic substrate selectivity of the ATH in water. Control experiments and kinetic studies show that the thermoresponsive outer layer induces the gated behavior for more hydrophobic substrates, whereas the photoresponsive cross-linking layer induces the gated behavior for less hydrophobic substrates. The nanoreactors mimic the multichannels in Nature, transporting substrates and reagents into the catalytic core which can be controlled through external triggers such as temperature and light wavelengths. Additionally, the nanoreactors can be easily recovered and reused with continued high activity and selectivities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangbei Liu
- Molecular Design Institute and Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003-6688, United
States
| | | | - Jeremy Weiss
- Molecular Design Institute and Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003-6688, United
States
| | - Kunhao Guo
- Molecular Design Institute and Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003-6688, United
States
| | - Marcus Weck
- Molecular Design Institute and Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003-6688, United
States
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9
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Thaden O, Schneider N, Walther T, Spiller E, Taoum A, Göpfrich K, Duarte Campos D. Bioprinting of Synthetic Cell-like Lipid Vesicles to Augment the Functionality of Tissues after Manufacturing. ACS Synth Biol 2024. [PMID: 39025476 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Bioprinting is an automated bioassembly method that enables the formation of human tissue-like constructs to restore or replace damaged tissues. Regardless of the employed bioprinting method, cells undergo mechanical stress that can impact their survival and function postprinting. In this study, we investigate the use of a synthetic cell-like unit, giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), as adjuvants of the cellular function of human cells postprinting, or in future as the complete replacement of human cells. We analyzed the impact of two nozzle-based bioprinting methods (drop-on-demand and extrusion bioprinting) on the structure, stability, and function of GUVs. We showed that over 65% of the GUVs remain intact when printing at 0.5 bar, demonstrating the potential of using GUVs as a synthetic cell source. We further increased the stability of GUVs in a cell culture medium by introducing polyethylene glycol (PEG) into the GUV lipid membrane. The presence of PEG, however, diminished the structural properties of GUVs postprinting, and reduced the interaction of GUVs with human cells. Although the design of PEG-GUVs can still be modified in future studies for better cell-GUV interactions, we demonstrated that GUVs are functional postprinting. Chlorin e6-PEG-GUVs loaded with a fluorescent dye were bioprinted, and they released the dye postprinting only upon illumination. This is a new strategy to deliver carriers, such as growth factors, drugs, nutrients, or gases, inside large bioprinted specimens on a millimeter to centimeter scale. Overall, we showed that printed GUVs can augment the functionality of manufactured human tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ole Thaden
- Bioprinting & Tissue Engineering Group, Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Nicole Schneider
- Bioprinting & Tissue Engineering Group, Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Tobias Walther
- Biophysical Engineering of Life Group, Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Erin Spiller
- Bioprinting & Tissue Engineering Group, Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Alexandre Taoum
- Bioprinting & Tissue Engineering Group, Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Kerstin Göpfrich
- Biophysical Engineering of Life Group, Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Daniela Duarte Campos
- Bioprinting & Tissue Engineering Group, Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
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10
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Fielden SDP. Kinetically Controlled and Nonequilibrium Assembly of Block Copolymers in Solution. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:18781-18796. [PMID: 38967256 PMCID: PMC11258791 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Covalent polymers are versatile macromolecules that have found widespread use in society. Contemporary methods of polymerization have made it possible to construct sequence polymers, including block copolymers, with high precision. Such copolymers assemble in solution when the blocks have differing solubilities. This produces nano- and microparticles of various shapes and sizes. While it is straightforward to draw an analogy between such amphiphilic block copolymers and phospholipids, these two classes of molecules show quite different assembly characteristics. In particular, block copolymers often assemble under kinetic control, thus producing nonequilibrium structures. This leads to a rich variety of behaviors being observed in block copolymer assembly, such as pathway dependence (e.g., thermal history), nonergodicity and responsiveness. The dynamics of polymer assemblies can be readily controlled using changes in environmental conditions and/or integrating functional groups situated on polymers with external chemical reactions. This perspective highlights that kinetic control is both pervasive and a useful attribute in the mechanics of block copolymer assembly. Recent examples are highlighted in order to show that toggling between static and dynamic behavior can be used to generate, manipulate and dismantle nonequilibrium states. New methods to control the kinetics of block copolymer assembly will provide endless unanticipated applications in materials science, biomimicry and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen D. P. Fielden
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United
Kingdom
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11
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Brodszkij E, Städler B. Advances in block copolymer-phospholipid hybrid vesicles: from physical-chemical properties to applications. Chem Sci 2024; 15:10724-10744. [PMID: 39027291 PMCID: PMC11253165 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc01444h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Hybrid vesicles, made of lipids and amphiphilic block copolymers, have become increasingly popular thanks to their versatile properties that enable the construction of intricate membranes mimicking cellular structures. This tutorial review gives an overview over the different hybrid vesicle designs, and provides a detailed analysis of their properties, including their composition, membrane fluidity, membrane homogeneity, permeability, stability. The review puts emphasis on the application of these hybrid vesicles in bottom-up synthetic biology and aims to offer an overview of design guidelines, particularly focusing on composition, to eventually realize the intended applications of these hybrid vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edit Brodszkij
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) Aarhus University Gustave Wieds Vej 14 8000 Aarhus C Denmark
| | - Brigitte Städler
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) Aarhus University Gustave Wieds Vej 14 8000 Aarhus C Denmark
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12
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You J, Qian Y, Xiong S, Zhang P, Mukwaya V, Levi-Kalisman Y, Raviv U, Dou H. Poly(ferrocenylsilane)-Based Redox-Active Artificial Organelles for Biomimetic Cascade Reactions. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202401435. [PMID: 38739532 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202401435] [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: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Artificial organelles serve as functional counterparts to natural organelles, which are primarily employed to artificially replicate, restore, or enhance cellular functions. While most artificial organelles exhibit basic functions, we diverge from this norm by utilizing poly(ferrocenylmethylethylthiocarboxypropylsilane) microcapsules (PFC MCs) to construct multifunctional artificial organelles through water/oil interfacial self-assembly. Within these PFC MCs, enzymatic cascades are induced through active molecular exchange across the membrane to mimic the functions of enzymes in mitochondria. We harness the inherent redox properties of the PFC polymer, which forms the membrane, to facilitate in-situ redox reactions similar to those supported by the inner membrane of natural mitochondria. Subsequent studies have demonstrated the interaction between PFC MCs and living cell including extended lifespans within various cell types. We anticipate that functional PFC MCs have the potential to serve as innovative platforms for organelle mimics capable of executing specific cellular functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi You
- The State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering., Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Yonghui Qian
- The State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering., Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Shuhan Xiong
- The State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering., Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Peipei Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering., Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Vincent Mukwaya
- The State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering., Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Yael Levi-Kalisman
- Institute of Life Sciences and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Uri Raviv
- Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hongjing Dou
- The State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering., Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
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13
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Koball A, Obst F, Gaitzsch J, Voit B, Appelhans D. Boosting Microfluidic Enzymatic Cascade Reactions with pH-Responsive Polymersomes by Spatio-Chemical Activity Control. SMALL METHODS 2024:e2400282. [PMID: 38989686 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidic flow reactors permit the implementation of sensitive biocatalysts in polymeric environments (e.g., hydrogel dots), mimicking nature through the use of diverse microstructures within defined confinements. However, establishing complex hybrid structures to mimic biological processes and functions under continuous flow with optimal utilization of all components involved in the reaction process represents a significant scientific challenge. To achieve spatial, chemical, and temporal control for any microfluidic application, compartmentalization is required, as well as the unification of different sensitive compartments in the reaction chamber for the microfluidic flow design. This study presents a self-regulating microfluidic system fabricated by a sequential photostructuring process with an intermediate chemical process step to realize pH-sensitive hybrid structures for the fabrication of a microfluidic double chamber reactor for controlled enzymatic cascade reaction (ECR). The key point is the adaptation and retention of the function of pH-responsive horseradish peroxidase-loaded polymersomes in a microfluidic chip under continuous flow. ECR is successfully triggered and controlled by an interplay between glucose oxidase-converted glucose, the membrane state of pH-responsive polymersomes, and other parameters (e.g., flow rate and fluid composition). This study establishes a promising noninvasive regulatory platform for extended spatio-chemical control of current and future ECR and other cascade reaction systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Koball
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, D-01069, Dresden, Germany
- Technische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie, Organische Chemie der Polymere, D-01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Franziska Obst
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, D-01069, Dresden, Germany
- Technische Universität Dresden, Institut für Halbleiter- und Mikrosystemtechnik, Nöthnitzer Straße 64, D-01187, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Gaitzsch
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, D-01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Brigitte Voit
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, D-01069, Dresden, Germany
- Technische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie, Organische Chemie der Polymere, D-01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dietmar Appelhans
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, D-01069, Dresden, Germany
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14
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Jäger E, Černoch P, Vragovic M, Calumby Albuquerque LJ, Sincari V, Heizer T, Jäger A, Kučka J, Janoušková OŠ, Pavlova E, Šefc L, Giacomelli FC. Membrane Permeability and Responsiveness Drive Performance: Linking Structural Features with the Antitumor Effectiveness of Doxorubicin-Loaded Stimuli-Triggered Polymersomes. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:4192-4202. [PMID: 38917475 PMCID: PMC11238342 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
The permeability and responsiveness of polymer membranes are absolutely relevant in the design of polymersomes for cargo delivery. Accordingly, we herein correlate the structural features, permeability, and responsiveness of doxorubicin-loaded (DOX-loaded) nonresponsive and stimuli-responsive polymersomes with their in vitro and in vivo antitumor performance. Polymer vesicles were produced using amphiphilic block copolymers containing a hydrophilic poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (PHPMA) segment linked to poly[N-(4-isopropylphenylacetamide)ethyl methacrylate] (PPPhA, nonresponsive block), poly[4-(4,4,5,5-tetra-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)benzyl methacrylate] [PbAPE, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive block], or poly[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDPA, pH-responsive block). The PDPA-based polymersomes demonstrated outstanding biological performance with antitumor activity notably enhanced compared to their counterparts. We attribute this behavior to a fast-triggered DOX release in acidic tumor environments as induced by pH-responsive polymersome disassembly at pH < 6.8. Possibly, an insufficient ROS concentration in the selected tumor model attenuates the rate of ROS-responsive vesicle degradation, whereas the nonresponsive nature of the PPPhA block remarkably impacts the performance of such potential nanomedicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliézer Jäger
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 162 00, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Černoch
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 162 00, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Vragovic
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 162 00, Czech Republic
| | - Lindomar Jose Calumby Albuquerque
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 162 00, Czech Republic
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo Andre 09280-560, Brazil
| | - Vladimir Sincari
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 162 00, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Heizer
- Center for Advanced Preclinical Imaging (CAPI), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague 120 00, Czech Republic
| | - Alessandro Jäger
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 162 00, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Kučka
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 162 00, Czech Republic
| | | | - Ewa Pavlova
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 162 00, Czech Republic
| | - Luděk Šefc
- Center for Advanced Preclinical Imaging (CAPI), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague 120 00, Czech Republic
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15
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Holkar A, Gao S, Villaseñor K, Lake M, Srivastava S. Quantitative turbidimetric characterization of stabilized complex coacervate dispersions. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:5060-5070. [PMID: 38743276 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01761c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Stabilizing complex coacervate microdroplets is desirable due to their various applications, such as bioreactors, drug delivery vehicles, and encapsulants. Here, we present quantitative characterization of complex coacervate dispersion stability inferred by turbidimetry measurements. The stability of the dispersions is shown to be modulated by the concentrations of comb polyelectrolyte (cPE) stabilizers and salt. We demonstrate cPEs as effective stabilizers for complex coacervate dispersions independent of the chemistry or length of the constituent polyelectrolytes, salts, or preparation routes. By monitoring the temporal evolution of dispersion turbidity, we show that cPEs suppress microdroplet coalescence with minimal change in microdroplet sizes over 48 hours, even at salt concentrations up to 300 mM. The number density and average microdroplet size are shown to be controlled by varying the cPE and salt concentrations. Lastly, turbidity maps, akin to binodal phase maps, depict an expansion of the turbid two-phase region and an increase in the salt resistance of the coacervates upon the introduction of cPEs. The coacervate salt resistance is shown to increase by >3×, and this increase is maintained for up to 15 days, demonstrating that cPEs impart higher salt resistance over extended durations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Advait Holkar
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Shang Gao
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Kathleen Villaseñor
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Michael Lake
- NSF BioPACIFIC MIP, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Samanvaya Srivastava
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
- NSF BioPACIFIC MIP, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Institute for Carbon Management, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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16
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Westensee IN, de Dios Andres P, Brodszkij E, Descours PL, Perez-Rodriguez D, Spinazzola A, Mookerjee RP, Städler B. Engineered Lipids for Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging in Steatotic Hepatocytes. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2400816. [PMID: 38949047 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202400816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in steatotic cells pose a problem due to their potential to cause oxidative stress and cellular damage. Delivering engineered phospholipids to intracellular lipid droplets in steatotic hepatic cells, using the cell's inherent intracellular lipid transport mechanisms are investigated. Initially, it is shown that tail-labeled fluorescent lipids assembled into liposomes are able to be transported to intracellular lipid droplets in steatotic HepG2 cells and HHL-5 cells. Further, an antioxidant, an EUK salen-manganese derivative, which has superoxide dismutase-like and catalase-like activity, is covalently conjugated to the tail of a phospholipid and formulated as liposomes for administration. Steatotic HepG2 cells and HHL-5 cells incubated with these antioxidant liposomes have lower intracellular ROS levels compared to untreated controls and non-covalently formulated antioxidants. This first proof-of-concept study illustrates an alternative strategy to equip native organelles in mammalian cells with engineered enzyme activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella N Westensee
- Interdisciplinarly Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Paula de Dios Andres
- Interdisciplinarly Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Edit Brodszkij
- Interdisciplinarly Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Pierre-Louis Descours
- Interdisciplinarly Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Diego Perez-Rodriguez
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Royal Free Campus, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Antonella Spinazzola
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Royal Free Campus, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Rajeshwar Prosad Mookerjee
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, Hampstead, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Brigitte Städler
- Interdisciplinarly Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
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17
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Chang L, Cui H, Li F, Job Zhang YHP, Zhang L. ATP regeneration by ATPases for in vitro biotransformation. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 73:108377. [PMID: 38763231 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108377] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) regeneration is a significant step in both living cells and in vitro biotransformation (ivBT). Rotary motor ATP synthases (ATPases), which regenerate ATP in living cells, have been widely assembled in biomimetic structures for in vitro ATP synthesis. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of ATPases, including the working principle, orientation and distribution density properties of ATPases, as well as the assembly strategies and applications of ATPase-based ATP regeneration modules. The original sources of ATPases for in vitro ATP regeneration include chromatophores, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and inverted Escherichia coli (E. coli) vesicles, which are readily accessible but unstable. Although significant advances have been made in the assembly methods for ATPase-artificial membranes in recent decades, it remains challenging to replicate the high density and orientation of ATPases observed in vivo using in vitro assembly methods. The use of bioproton pumps or chemicals for constructing proton motive forces (PMF) enables the versatility and potential of ATPase-based ATP regeneration modules. Additionally, overall robustness can be achieved via membrane component selection, such as polymers offering great mechanical stability, or by constructing a solid supporting matrix through layer-by-layer assembly techniques. Finally, the prospects of ATPase-based ATP regeneration modules can be expected with the technological development of ATPases and artificial membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijing Chang
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, PR China; In vitro Synthetic Biology Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, PR China
| | - Huijuan Cui
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, PR China; In vitro Synthetic Biology Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, PR China
| | - Fei Li
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, PR China; In vitro Synthetic Biology Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, PR China
| | - Yi-Heng P Job Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, PR China; In vitro Synthetic Biology Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Lingling Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, PR China; In vitro Synthetic Biology Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.
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18
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Yildiz SN, Entezari M, Paskeh MDA, Mirzaei S, Kalbasi A, Zabolian A, Hashemi F, Hushmandi K, Hashemi M, Raei M, Goharrizi MASB, Aref AR, Zarrabi A, Ren J, Orive G, Rabiee N, Ertas YN. Nanoliposomes as nonviral vectors in cancer gene therapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e583. [PMID: 38919334 PMCID: PMC11199024 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Nonviral vectors, such as liposomes, offer potential for targeted gene delivery in cancer therapy. Liposomes, composed of phospholipid vesicles, have demonstrated efficacy as nanocarriers for genetic tools, addressing the limitations of off-targeting and degradation commonly associated with traditional gene therapy approaches. Due to their biocompatibility, stability, and tunable physicochemical properties, they offer potential in overcoming the challenges associated with gene therapy, such as low transfection efficiency and poor stability in biological fluids. Despite these advancements, there remains a gap in understanding the optimal utilization of nanoliposomes for enhanced gene delivery in cancer treatment. This review delves into the present state of nanoliposomes as carriers for genetic tools in cancer therapy, sheds light on their potential to safeguard genetic payloads and facilitate cell internalization alongside the evolution of smart nanocarriers for targeted delivery. The challenges linked to their biocompatibility and the factors that restrict their effectiveness in gene delivery are also discussed along with exploring the potential of nanoliposomes in cancer gene therapy strategies by analyzing recent advancements and offering future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maliheh Entezari
- Department of GeneticsFaculty of Advanced Science and TechnologyTehran Medical SciencesIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
- Department of Medical Convergence SciencesFarhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical SciencesIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
| | - Mahshid Deldar Abad Paskeh
- Department of GeneticsFaculty of Advanced Science and TechnologyTehran Medical SciencesIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
- Department of Medical Convergence SciencesFarhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical SciencesIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
| | - Sepideh Mirzaei
- Department of BiologyFaculty of ScienceIslamic Azad UniversityScience and Research BranchTehranIran
| | - Alireza Kalbasi
- Department of PharmacyBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Amirhossein Zabolian
- Department of OrthopedicsShahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Farid Hashemi
- Department of Comparative BiosciencesFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of TehranTehranIran
| | - Kiavash Hushmandi
- Department of Clinical Sciences InstituteNephrology and Urology Research CenterBaqiyatallah University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Department of GeneticsFaculty of Advanced Science and TechnologyTehran Medical SciencesIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
- Department of Medical Convergence SciencesFarhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical SciencesIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
| | - Mehdi Raei
- Department of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsSchool of HealthBaqiyatallah University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | | | - Amir Reza Aref
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer ScienceDana‐Farber Cancer InstituteHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Translational SciencesXsphera Biosciences Inc.BostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringFaculty of Engineering and Natural SciencesIstinye UniversityIstanbulTurkey
| | - Jun Ren
- Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular DiseasesDepartment of CardiologyZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Gorka Orive
- NanoBioCel Research GroupSchool of PharmacyUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)Vitoria‐GasteizSpain
- University Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Oral Implantology ‐ UIRMI (UPV/EHU‐Fundación Eduardo Anitua)Vitoria‐GasteizSpain
- Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research GroupVitoria‐GasteizSpain
- The AcademiaSingapore Eye Research InstituteSingaporeSingapore
| | - Navid Rabiee
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative TherapeuticsMurdoch UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Yavuz Nuri Ertas
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringErciyes UniversityKayseriTurkey
- ERNAM—Nanotechnology Research and Application CenterErciyes UniversityKayseriTurkey
- UNAM−National Nanotechnology Research CenterBilkent UniversityAnkaraTurkey
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19
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Ramezani P, De Smedt SC, Sauvage F. Supramolecular dye nanoassemblies for advanced diagnostics and therapies. Bioeng Transl Med 2024; 9:e10652. [PMID: 39036081 PMCID: PMC11256156 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Dyes have conventionally been used in medicine for staining cells, tissues, and organelles. Since these compounds are also known as photosensitizers (PSs) which exhibit photoresponsivity upon photon illumination, there is a high desire towards formulating these molecules into nanoparticles (NPs) to achieve improved delivery efficiency and enhanced stability for novel imaging and therapeutic applications. Furthermore, it has been shown that some of the photophysical properties of these molecules can be altered upon NP formation thereby playing a major role in the outcome of their application. In this review, we primarily focus on introducing dye categories, their formulation strategies and how these strategies affect their photophysical properties in the context of photothermal and non-photothermal applications. More specifically, the most recent progress showing the potential of dye supramolecular assemblies in modalities such as photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging, photothermal and photodynamic therapies as well as their employment in photoablation as a novel modality will be outlined. Aside from their photophysical activity, we delve shortly into the emerging application of dyes as drug stabilizing agents where these molecules are used together with aggregator molecules to form stable nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pouria Ramezani
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Ghent University Ghent Belgium
| | - Stefaan C De Smedt
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Ghent University Ghent Belgium
| | - Félix Sauvage
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Ghent University Ghent Belgium
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20
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Rudzińska M, Grygier A, Knight G, Kmiecik D. Liposomes as Carriers of Bioactive Compounds in Human Nutrition. Foods 2024; 13:1814. [PMID: 38928757 PMCID: PMC11202941 DOI: 10.3390/foods13121814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This article provides an overview of the literature data on the role of liposomal structures and encapsulated substances in food technology and human nutrition. The paper briefly describes how liposomes are created and how they encapsulate food ingredients, which can either be individual compounds or plant extracts. Another very interesting application of liposomes is their use as antimicrobial carriers to protect food products from spoilage during storage. The encapsulation of food ingredients in liposomes can increase their bioavailability, which is particularly important for compounds with health-promoting properties but low bioavailability. Particular attention was paid to compounds such as phytosterols, which lower blood cholesterol levels but have very low absorption in the human body. In addition, consumer expectations and regulations for liposomes in food are discussed. To date, no in vivo human studies have been conducted to indicate which encapsulation methods give the best results for gastrointestinal effects and which food-added substances are most stable during food storage and processing. The paper identifies further lines of research that are needed before liposomes can be introduced into food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Rudzińska
- Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; (A.G.); (G.K.); (D.K.)
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21
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Zhou Y, Zhang K, Moreno S, Temme A, Voit B, Appelhans D. Continuous Transformation from Membrane-Less Coacervates to Membranized Coacervates and Giant Vesicles: Toward Multicompartmental Protocells with Complex (Membrane) Architectures. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024:e202407472. [PMID: 38847278 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202407472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
The membranization of membrane-less coacervates paves the way for the exploitation of complex protocells with regard to structural and cell-like functional behaviors. However, the controlled transformation from membranized coacervates to vesicles remains a challenge. This can provide stable (multi)phase and (multi)compartmental architectures through the reconfiguration of coacervate droplets in the presence of (bioactive) polymers, bio(macro)molecules and/or nanoobjects. Herein, we present a continuous protocell transformation from membrane-less coacervates to membranized coacervates and, ultimately, to giant hybrid vesicles. This transformation process is orchestrated by altering the balance of non-covalent interactions through varying concentrations of an anionic terpolymer, leading to dynamic processes such as spontaneous membranization of terpolymer nanoparticles at the coacervate surface, disassembly of the coacervate phase mediated by the excess anionic charge, and the redistribution of coacervate components in membrane. The diverse protocells during the transformation course provide distinct structural features and molecular permeability. Notably, the introduction of multiphase coacervates in this continuous transformation process signifies advancements toward the creation of synthetic cells with different diffusible compartments. Our findings emphasize the highly controlled continuous structural reorganization of coacervate protocells and represents a novel step toward the development of advanced and sophisticated synthetic protocells with more precise compositions and complex (membrane) structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhou
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, Dresden, 01069, Germany
- Organic Chemistry of Polymers, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, 01062, Germany
| | - Kehu Zhang
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, Dresden, 01069, Germany
- Organic Chemistry of Polymers, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, 01062, Germany
| | - Silvia Moreno
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, Dresden, 01069, Germany
| | - Achim Temme
- Department of Neurosurgery, Section Experimental Neurosurgery/Tumor Immunology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, 01307, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Dresden, Germany, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Fetscherstraße 74, Dresden, 01307, Germany
| | - Brigitte Voit
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, Dresden, 01069, Germany
- Organic Chemistry of Polymers, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, 01062, Germany
| | - Dietmar Appelhans
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, Dresden, 01069, Germany
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22
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Saraiva NM, Alves A, Costa PC, Correia-da-Silva M. Click Chemistry in Polymersome Technology. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:747. [PMID: 38931414 PMCID: PMC11206349 DOI: 10.3390/ph17060747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Polymersomes, self-assembled nanoparticles composed of amphiphilic block copolymers, have emerged as promising versatile nanovesicles with various applications, such as drug delivery, medical imaging, and diagnostics. The integration of click chemistry reactions, specifically the copper [I]-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), has greatly expanded the functionalisation and bioconjugation capabilities of polymersomes and new drugs, being this synergistic combination explored in this review. It also provides up-to-date examples of previous incorporations of click-compatible moieties (azide and alkyne functional groups) into polymer building blocks, enabling the "click" attachment of various functional groups and ligands, delving into the diverse range of click reactions that have been reported and employed for polymersome copolymer synthesis and the modification of polymersome surfaces, including ligand conjugation and surface modification. Overall, this review explores the current state-of-the-art of the combinatory usage, in recent years, of polymersomes with the click chemistry reaction, highlighting examples of studies of their synthesis and functionalisation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno M. Saraiva
- LQOF—Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal dos Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Ana Alves
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, MedTech-Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (A.A.); (P.C.C.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paulo C. Costa
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, MedTech-Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (A.A.); (P.C.C.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Correia-da-Silva
- LQOF—Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal dos Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
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23
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Sproncken CCM, Liu P, Monney J, Fall WS, Pierucci C, Scholten PBV, Van Bueren B, Penedo M, Fantner GE, Wensink HH, Steiner U, Weder C, Bruns N, Mayer M, Ianiro A. Large-area, self-healing block copolymer membranes for energy conversion. Nature 2024; 630:866-871. [PMID: 38839964 PMCID: PMC11208134 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07481-2] [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: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Membranes are widely used for separation processes in applications such as water desalination, batteries and dialysis, and are crucial in key sectors of our economy and society1. The majority of technologically exploited membranes are based on solid polymers and function as passive barriers, whose transport characteristics are governed by their chemical composition and nanostructure. Although such membranes are ubiquitous, it has proved challenging to maximize selectivity and permeability independently, leading to trade-offs between these pertinent characteristics2. Self-assembled biological membranes, in which barrier and transport functions are decoupled3,4, provide the inspiration to address this problem5,6. Here we introduce a self-assembly strategy that uses the interface of an aqueous two-phase system to template and stabilize molecularly thin (approximately 35 nm) biomimetic block copolymer bilayers of scalable area that can exceed 10 cm2 without defects. These membranes are self-healing, and their barrier function against the passage of ions (specific resistance of approximately 1 MΩ cm2) approaches that of phospholipid membranes. The fluidity of these membranes enables straightforward functionalization with molecular carriers that shuttle potassium ions down a concentration gradient with exquisite selectivity over sodium ions. This ion selectivity enables the generation of electric power from equimolar solutions of NaCl and KCl in devices that mimic the electric organ of electric rays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian C M Sproncken
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Peng Liu
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Justin Monney
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - William S Fall
- Laboratoire de Physique des Solides - UMR 8502, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Carolina Pierucci
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Philip B V Scholten
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Brian Van Bueren
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Marcos Penedo
- Laboratory for Bio- and Nano-Instrumentation, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Georg Ernest Fantner
- Laboratory for Bio- and Nano-Instrumentation, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Henricus H Wensink
- Laboratoire de Physique des Solides - UMR 8502, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Ullrich Steiner
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Weder
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Nico Bruns
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Synthetic Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Michael Mayer
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
| | - Alessandro Ianiro
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
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24
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Samanta A, Baranda Pellejero L, Masukawa M, Walther A. DNA-empowered synthetic cells as minimalistic life forms. Nat Rev Chem 2024; 8:454-470. [PMID: 38750171 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-024-00606-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Cells, the fundamental units of life, orchestrate intricate functions - motility, adaptation, replication, communication, and self-organization within tissues. Originating from spatiotemporally organized structures and machinery, coupled with information processing in signalling networks, cells embody the 'sensor-processor-actuator' paradigm. Can we glean insights from these processes to construct primitive artificial systems with life-like properties? Using de novo design approaches, what can we uncover about the evolutionary path of life? This Review discusses the strides made in crafting synthetic cells, utilizing the powerful toolbox of structural and dynamic DNA nanoscience. We describe how DNA can serve as a versatile tool for engineering entire synthetic cells or subcellular entities, and how DNA enables complex behaviour, including motility and information processing for adaptive and interactive processes. We chart future directions for DNA-empowered synthetic cells, envisioning interactive systems wherein synthetic cells communicate within communities and with living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avik Samanta
- Life-Like Materials and Systems, Department of Chemistry, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India.
| | | | - Marcos Masukawa
- Life-Like Materials and Systems, Department of Chemistry, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Andreas Walther
- Life-Like Materials and Systems, Department of Chemistry, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
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25
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Seo H, Lee H. Programmable Enzymatic Reaction Network in Artificial Cell-Like Polymersomes. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2305760. [PMID: 38627986 PMCID: PMC11200095 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202305760] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
The ability to precisely control in vitro enzymatic reactions in synthetic cells plays a crucial role in the bottom-up design of artificial cell models that can recapitulate the key cellular features and functions such as metabolism. However, integration of enzymatic reactions has been limited to bulk or microfluidic emulsions without a membrane, lacking the ability to design more sophisticated higher-order artificial cell communities for reconstituting spatiotemporal biological information at multiple length scales. Herein, droplet microfluidics is utilized to synthesize artificial cell-like polymersomes with distinct molecular permeability for spatiotemporal control of enzymatic reactions driven by external signals and fuels. The presence of a competing reverse enzymatic reaction that depletes the active substrates is shown to enable demonstration of fuel-driven formation of sub-microcompartments within polymersomes as well as realization of out-of-equilibrium systems. In addition, the different permeability characteristics of polymersome membranes are exploited to successfully construct a programmable enzymatic reaction network that mimics cellular communication within a heterogeneous cell community through selective molecular transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanjin Seo
- Department of Chemical EngineeringPohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)77 Cheongam‐Ro, Nam‐GuPohangGyeongbuk37673South Korea
| | - Hyomin Lee
- Department of Chemical EngineeringPohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)77 Cheongam‐Ro, Nam‐GuPohangGyeongbuk37673South Korea
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26
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Jahnke K, Pavlovic M, Xu W, Chen A, Knowles TPJ, Arriaga LR, Weitz DA. Polysaccharide functionalization reduces lipid vesicle stiffness. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317227121. [PMID: 38771870 PMCID: PMC11145274 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317227121] [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: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The biophysical properties of lipid vesicles are important for their stability and integrity, key parameters that control the performance when these vesicles are used for drug delivery. The vesicle properties are determined by the composition of lipids used to form the vesicle. However, for a given lipid composition, they can also be tailored by tethering polymers to the membrane. Typically, synthetic polymers like polyethyleneglycol are used to increase vesicle stability, but the use of polysaccharides in this context is much less explored. Here, we report a general method for functionalizing lipid vesicles with polysaccharides by binding them to cholesterol. We incorporate the polysaccharides on the outer membrane leaflet of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and investigate their effect on membrane mechanics using micropipette aspiration. We find that the presence of the glycolipid functionalization produces an unexpected softening of GUVs with fluid-like membranes. By contrast, the functionalization of GUVs with polyethylene glycol does not reduce their stretching modulus. This work provides the potential means to study membrane-bound meshworks of polysaccharides similar to the cellular glycocalyx; moreover, it can be used for tuning the mechanical properties of drug delivery vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Jahnke
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
| | - Marko Pavlovic
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
| | - Wentao Xu
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
| | - Anqi Chen
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Laura R. Arriaga
- Department of Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, Condensed Matter Physics Center and Instituto Nicolás Cabrera, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid28049, Spain
| | - David A. Weitz
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
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27
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Çalbaş B, Keobounnam AN, Korban C, Doratan AJ, Jean T, Sharma AY, Wright TA. Protein-polymer bioconjugation, immobilization, and encapsulation: a comparative review towards applicability, functionality, activity, and stability. Biomater Sci 2024; 12:2841-2864. [PMID: 38683585 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm01861j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Polymer-based biomaterials have received a lot of attention due to their biomedical, agricultural, and industrial potential. Soluble protein-polymer bioconjugates, immobilized proteins, and encapsulated proteins have been shown to tune enzymatic activity, improved pharmacokinetic ability, increased chemical and thermal stability, stimuli responsiveness, and introduced protein recovery. Controlled polymerization techniques, increased protein-polymer attachment techniques, improved polymer surface grafting techniques, controlled polymersome self-assembly, and sophisticated characterization methods have been utilized for the development of well-defined polymer-based biomaterials. In this review we aim to provide a brief account of the field, compare these methods for engineering biomaterials, provide future directions for the field, and highlight impacts of these forms of bioconjugation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berke Çalbaş
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Ashley N Keobounnam
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Christopher Korban
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ainsley Jade Doratan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Tiffany Jean
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Aryan Yashvardhan Sharma
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Thaiesha A Wright
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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28
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Zambrano P, Manrique-Moreno M, Petit K, Colina JR, Jemiola-Rzeminska M, Suwalsky M, Strzalka K. Differential scanning calorimetry in drug-membrane interactions. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 709:149806. [PMID: 38579619 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149806] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is a central technique in investigating drug - membrane interactions, a critical component of pharmaceutical research. DSC measures the heat difference between a sample of interest and a reference as a function of temperature or time, contributing essential knowledge on the thermally induced phase changes in lipid membranes and how these changes are affected by incorporating pharmacological substances. The manuscript discusses the use of phospholipid bilayers, which can form structures like unilamellar and multilamellar vesicles, providing a simplified yet representative membrane model to investigate the complex dynamics of how drugs interact with and penetrate cellular barriers. The manuscript consolidates data from various studies, providing a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying drug - membrane interactions, the determinants that influence these interactions, and the crucial role of DSC in elucidating these components. It further explores the interactions of specific classes of drugs with phospholipid membranes, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticancer agents, natural products with antioxidant properties, and Alzheimer's disease therapeutics. The manuscript underscores the critical importance of DSC in this field and the need for continued research to improve our understanding of these interactions, acting as a valuable resource for researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Zambrano
- Department of Bioscience, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85748, Garching, Germany.
| | - Marcela Manrique-Moreno
- Faculty of Natural of Exact Sciences, Chemistry Institute, University of Antioquia, A.A. 1226, Medellin, 050010, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Karla Petit
- LabMAT, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Bío-Bío, Concepción, Chile
| | - José R Colina
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, Concepción 4080871, Chile
| | - Malgorzata Jemiola-Rzeminska
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland; Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Mario Suwalsky
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de La Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Kazimierz Strzalka
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland; Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
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29
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Eş I, Thakur A, Mousavi Khaneghah A, Foged C, de la Torre LG. Engineering aspects of lipid-based delivery systems: In vivo gene delivery, safety criteria, and translation strategies. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 72:108342. [PMID: 38518964 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108342] [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: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Defects in the genome cause genetic diseases and can be treated with gene therapy. Due to the limitations encountered in gene delivery, lipid-based supramolecular colloidal materials have emerged as promising gene carrier systems. In their non-functionalized form, lipid nanoparticles often demonstrate lower transgene expression efficiency, leading to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes, specifically through reduced percentages of cells expressing the transgene. Due to chemically active substituents, the engineering of delivery systems for genetic drugs with specific chemical ligands steps forward as an innovative strategy to tackle the drawbacks and enhance their therapeutic efficacy. Despite intense investigations into functionalization strategies, the clinical outcome of such therapies still needs to be improved. Here, we highlight and comprehensively review engineering aspects for functionalizing lipid-based delivery systems and their therapeutic efficacy for developing novel genetic cargoes to provide a full snapshot of the translation from the bench to the clinics. We outline existing challenges in the delivery and internalization processes and narrate recent advances in the functionalization of lipid-based delivery systems for nucleic acids to enhance their therapeutic efficacy and safety. Moreover, we address clinical trials using these vectors to expand their clinical use and principal safety concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Eş
- Department of Material and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Old Road Campus Research Building, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK.
| | - Aneesh Thakur
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - Amin Mousavi Khaneghah
- Faculty of Biotechnologies (BioTech), ITMO University 191002, 9 Lomonosova Street, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Camilla Foged
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Lucimara Gaziola de la Torre
- Department of Material and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
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30
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Li W, Zhang S, Sun M, Kleuskens S, Wilson DA. Shape Transformation of Polymer Vesicles. ACCOUNTS OF MATERIALS RESEARCH 2024; 5:453-466. [PMID: 38694189 PMCID: PMC11059097 DOI: 10.1021/accountsmr.3c00253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Life activities, such as respiration, are accomplished through the continuous shape modulation of cells, tissues, and organs. Developing smart materials with shape-morphing capability is a pivotal step toward life-like systems and emerging technologies of wearable electronics, soft robotics, and biomimetic actuators. Drawing inspiration from cells, smart vesicular systems have been assembled to mimic the biological shape modulation. This would enable the understanding of cellular shape adaptation and guide the design of smart materials with shape-morphing capability. Polymer vesicles assembled by amphiphilic molecules are an example of remarkable vesicular systems. The chemical versatility, physical stability, and surface functionality promise their application in nanomedicine, nanoreactor, and biomimetic systems. However, it is difficult to drive polymer vesicles away from equilibrium to induce shape transformation due to the unfavorable energy landscapes caused by the low mobility of polymer chains and low permeability of the vesicular membrane. Extensive studies in the past decades have developed various methods including dialysis, chemical addition, temperature variation, polymerization, gas exchange, etc., to drive shape transformation. Polymer vesicles can now be engineered into a variety of nonspherical shapes. Despite the brilliant progress, most of the current studies regarding the shape transformation of polymer vesicles still lie in the trial-and-error stage. It is a grand challenge to predict and program the shape transformations of polymer vesicles. An in-depth understanding of the deformation pathway of polymer vesicles would facilitate the transition from the trial-and-error stage to the computing stage. In this Account, we introduce recent progress in the shape transformation of polymer vesicles. To provide an insightful analysis, the shape transformation of polymer vesicles is divided into basic and coupled deformation. First, we discuss the basic deformation of polymer vesicles with a focus on two deformation pathways: the oblate pathway and the prolate pathway. Strategies used to trigger different deformation pathways are introduced. Second, we discuss the origin of the selectivity of two deformation pathways and the strategies used to control the selectivity. Third, we discuss the coupled deformation of polymer vesicles with a focus on the switch and coupling of two basic deformation pathways. Last, we analyze the challenges and opportunities in the shape transformation of polymer vesicles. We envision that a systematic understanding of the deformation pathway would push the shape transformation of polymer vesicles from the trial-and-error stage to the computing stage. This would enable the prediction of deformation behaviors of nanoparticles in complex environments, like blood and interstitial tissue, and access to advanced architecture desirable for man-made applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Shaohua Zhang
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mingchen Sun
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra Kleuskens
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Daniela A. Wilson
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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31
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Wan Y, Qiu Y, Zhou J, Liu J, Stuart MAC, Peng Y, Wang J. Stable and permeable polyion complex vesicles designed as enzymatic nanoreactors. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:3499-3507. [PMID: 38595066 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00216d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Polymeric vesicles are perspective vehicles for fabricating enzymatic nanoreactors towards diverse biomedical and catalytic applications, yet the design of stable and permeable vesicles remains challenging. Herein, we developed polyion complex (PIC) vesicles featuring high stability and a permeable membrane for adequate enzyme loading and activation. Our design relies on co-assembly of an anionic diblock copolymer (PSS96-b-PEO113) with cationic branched poly(ethylenimine) (PEI). The polymer combination endows strong electrostatic interaction between the PSS and PEI building blocks, so their assembly can be implemented at a high salt concentration (500 mM NaCl), under which the charge interaction of the enzyme-polymer is inhibited. This control realizes the successful and safe loading of enzymes associated with the formation of stable PIC vesicles with an intrinsic permeable membrane that is favourable for enhancing enzymatic activity. The control factors for vesicle formation and enzyme loading were investigated, and the general application of loading different enzymes for cascade reaction was validated as well. Our study reveals that proper design and combination of polyelectrolytes is a facile strategy for fabricating stable and permeable polymeric PIC vesicles, which exhibit clear advantages for loading and activating enzymes, consequently boosting their diverse applications as enzymatic nanoreactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Wan
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, 200237, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yuening Qiu
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, 200237, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jin Zhou
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, 200237, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jinbo Liu
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, 200237, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Martien A Cohen Stuart
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, 200237, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yangfeng Peng
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, 200237, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Junyou Wang
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, 200237, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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32
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Bera S, Bej R, Kanjilal P, Sinha S, Ghosh S. Bioreducible Amphiphilic Hyperbranched Polymer-Drug Conjugate for Intracellular Drug Delivery. Bioconjug Chem 2024; 35:480-488. [PMID: 38514383 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.4c00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
This paper reports synthesis of a bioreducible hyperbranched (HB) polymer by A2+B3 approach from commercially available dithiothreitol (DTT) (A2) and an easily accessible trifunctional monomer (B3) containing three reactive pyridyl-disulfide groups. Highly efficient thiol-activated disulfide exchange reaction leads to the formation of the HB polymer (Mw = 21000; Đ = 2.3) with bioreducible disulfide linkages in the backbone and two different functional groups, namely, hydroxyl and pyridyl-disulfide in the core and periphery, respectively, of the HB-polymer. Postpolymerization functionalization of the hydroxyl-groups with camptothecin (CPT), a topoisomerase inhibitor and known anticancer drug, followed by replacing the terminal pyridyl-disulfide groups with oligo-oxyethylene-thiol resulted in easy access to an amphiphilic HB polydisulfide-CPT conjugate (P1) with a very high drug loading content of ∼40%. P1 aggregated in water (above ∼10 μg/mL) producing drug-loaded nanoparticles (Dh ∼ 135 nm), which showed highly efficient glutathione (GSH)-triggered release of the active CPT. Mass spectrometry analysis of the GSH-treated P1 showed the presence of the active CPT drug as well as a cyclic monothiocarbonate product, which underpins the cascade-degradation mechanism involving GSH-triggered cleavage of the labile disulfide linkage, followed by intramolecular nucleophilic attack by the in situ generated thiol to the neighboring carbonate linkage, resulting in release of the active CPT drug. The P1 nanoparticle showed excellent cellular uptake as tested by confocal fluorescence microscopy in HeLa cells by predominantly endocytosis mechanism, resulting in highly efficient cell killing (IC50 ∼ 0.6 μg/mL) as evident from the results of the MTT assay, as well as the apoptosis assay. Comparative studies with an analogous linear polymer-CPT conjugate showed much superior intracellular drug delivery potency of the hyperbranched polymer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanya Bera
- School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Raju Bej
- School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Pintu Kanjilal
- School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Satyaki Sinha
- School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Suhrit Ghosh
- School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata 700032, India
- Technical Research Center (TRC),Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata 700032, India
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33
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Ghosh R, Singh B, Basu S, Mondal A, Maiti PK, De M. Reversing the Trend: Deciphering Self-Assembly of Unconventional Amphiphiles Having Both Alkyl-Chain and PEG. Chempluschem 2024:e202400147. [PMID: 38623044 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202400147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
In the field of molecular self-assembly, the core of an assembly is always made up of hydrophobic moiety like a long alkyl chain, whereas the outer part has always been a hydrophilic moiety such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), or charged species. Hence, reversing the trend to manifest self-assembled structures with a PEG core and a surface consisting of alkyl chains in aqueous system is incredibly challenging. Herein, we architected a unique class of cationic bolaamphiphiles containing low molecular weight PEG and alkyl chains of different lengths. The bolaamphiphiles spontaneously form vesicles without external stimuli. These vesicles are unprecedented because PEG makes up the vesicle core, while the alkyl chains appear on the vesicles' exterior. Hence, this particular design reverses the usual trend of self-assembly formation. The vesicle size increases with the increase in alkyl chain-length. To our great surprise, we obtained large micelles for longest alkyl-chain amphiphile, which in turn act as a gemini amphiphile. The shift from a particular bolaamphiphile to gemini amphiphile with the variation of alkyl chain is also unexplored. Therefore, this specific class of self-assembled structure would compound a new paradigm in molecular self-assembly and supramolecular chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Ghosh
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Bharat Singh
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Subhadip Basu
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Avijit Mondal
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Prabal Kumar Maiti
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Mrinmoy De
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
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34
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Xu Q, Wang Y, Zheng Y, Zhu Y, Li Z, Liu Y, Ding M. Polymersomes in Drug Delivery─From Experiment to Computational Modeling. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:2114-2135. [PMID: 38011222 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Polymersomes, composed of amphiphilic block copolymers, are self-assembled vesicles that have gained attention as potential drug delivery systems due to their good biocompatibility, stability, and versatility. Various experimental techniques have been employed to characterize the self-assembly behaviors and properties of polymersomes. However, they have limitations in revealing molecular details and underlying mechanisms. Computational modeling techniques have emerged as powerful tools to complement experimental studies and enabled researchers to examine drug delivery mechanisms at molecular resolution. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in the field of polymersome-based drug delivery systems, with an emphasis on insights gained from both experimental and computational studies. Specifically, we focus on polymersome morphologies, self-assembly kinetics, fusion and fission, behaviors in flow, as well as drug encapsulation and release mechanisms. Furthermore, we also identify existing challenges and limitations in this rapidly evolving field and suggest possible directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianru Xu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Yiwei Wang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Yi Zheng
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Yuling Zhu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Zifen Li
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Yang Liu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Mingming Ding
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
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35
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Ngocho K, Yang X, Wang Z, Hu C, Yang X, Shi H, Wang K, Liu J. Synthetic Cells from Droplet-Based Microfluidics for Biosensing and Biomedical Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2400086. [PMID: 38563581 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202400086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic cells function as biological mimics of natural cells by mimicking salient features of cells such as metabolism, response to stimuli, gene expression, direct metabolism, and high stability. Droplet-based microfluidic technology presents the opportunity for encapsulating biological functional components in uni-lamellar liposome or polymer droplets. Verified by its success in the fabrication of synthetic cells, microfluidic technology is widely replacing conventional labor-intensive, expensive, and sophisticated techniques justified by its ability to miniaturize and perform batch production operations. In this review, an overview of recent research on the preparation of synthetic cells through droplet-based microfluidics is provided. Different synthetic cells including lipid vesicles (liposome), polymer vesicles (polymersome), coacervate microdroplets, and colloidosomes, are systematically discussed. Efforts are then made to discuss the design of a variety of microfluidic chips for synthetic cell preparation since the combination of microfluidics with bottom-up synthetic biology allows for reproductive and tunable construction of batches of synthetic cell models from simple structures to higher hierarchical structures. The recent advances aimed at exploiting them in biosensors and other biomedical applications are then discussed. Finally, some perspectives on the challenges and future developments of synthetic cell research with microfluidics for biomimetic science and biomedical applications are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kleins Ngocho
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Xilei Yang
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Zefeng Wang
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Cunjie Hu
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohai Yang
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Hui Shi
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Kemin Wang
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Jianbo Liu
- State key laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
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36
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Belluati A, Jimaja S, Chadwick RJ, Glynn C, Chami M, Happel D, Guo C, Kolmar H, Bruns N. Artificial cell synthesis using biocatalytic polymerization-induced self-assembly. Nat Chem 2024; 16:564-574. [PMID: 38049652 PMCID: PMC10997521 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01391-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Artificial cells are biomimetic microstructures that mimic functions of natural cells, can be applied as building blocks for molecular systems engineering, and host synthetic biology pathways. Here we report enzymatically synthesized polymer-based artificial cells with the ability to express proteins. Artificial cells were synthesized using biocatalytic atom transfer radical polymerization-induced self-assembly, in which myoglobin synthesizes amphiphilic block co-polymers that self-assemble into structures such as micelles, worm-like micelles, polymersomes and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). The GUVs encapsulate cargo during the polymerization, including enzymes, nanoparticles, microparticles, plasmids and cell lysate. The resulting artificial cells act as microreactors for enzymatic reactions and for osteoblast-inspired biomineralization. Moreover, they can express proteins such as a fluorescent protein and actin when fed with amino acids. Actin polymerizes in the vesicles and alters the artificial cells' internal structure by creating internal compartments. Thus, biocatalytic atom transfer radical polymerization-induced self-assembly-derived GUVs can mimic bacteria as they are composed of a microscopic reaction compartment that contains genetic information for protein expression upon induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Belluati
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Thomas Graham Building, Glasgow, UK.
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Synthetic Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Sètuhn Jimaja
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Robert J Chadwick
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Thomas Graham Building, Glasgow, UK
| | - Christopher Glynn
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Thomas Graham Building, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Dominic Happel
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Synthetic Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Chao Guo
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Thomas Graham Building, Glasgow, UK
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Synthetic Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Nico Bruns
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Thomas Graham Building, Glasgow, UK.
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Synthetic Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.
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37
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Wang H, Tan S, Su Z, Li M, Hao X, Peng F. Perforin-Mimicking Molecular Drillings Enable Macroporous Hollow Lignin Spheres for Performance-Configurable Materials. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2311073. [PMID: 38199249 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202311073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Despite the first observations that the perforin can punch holes in target cells for live/dead cycles in the human immune system over 110 years ago, emulating this behavior in materials science remains challenging. Here, a perforin-mimicking molecular drilling strategy is employed to engineer macroporous hollow lignin spheres as performance-configurable catalysts, adhesives, and gels. Using a toolbox of over 20 molecular compounds, the local curvature of amphiphilic lignin is modulated to generate macroporous spheres with hole sizes ranging from 0 to 100 nm. Multiscale control is precisely achieved through noncovalent assembly directing catalysis, synthesis, and polymerization. Exceptional performance mutations correlate with the changes in hole size, including an increase in catalytic efficiency from 50% to 100%, transition from nonstick synthetics to ultrastrong adhesives (adhesion ≈18.3 MPa, exceeding that of classic epoxies), and transformation of viscous sols to tough nanogels. Thus, this study provides a robust and versatile noncovalent route for mimicking perforin-induced structural variations in cells, representing a significant stride toward the exquisite orchestration of assemblies over multiple length scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hairong Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, MOE Engineering Research Center of Forestry Biomass Materials and Energy, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Shujun Tan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, MOE Engineering Research Center of Forestry Biomass Materials and Energy, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Zhenhua Su
- China National Pulp and Paper Research Institute, Beijing, 100102, China
| | - Mingfei Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, MOE Engineering Research Center of Forestry Biomass Materials and Energy, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiang Hao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, MOE Engineering Research Center of Forestry Biomass Materials and Energy, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Feng Peng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, MOE Engineering Research Center of Forestry Biomass Materials and Energy, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing, 100083, China
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38
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Negut I, Bita B. Polymersomes as Innovative, Stimuli-Responsive Platforms for Cancer Therapy. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:463. [PMID: 38675124 PMCID: PMC11053450 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This review addresses the urgent need for more targeted and less toxic cancer treatments by exploring the potential of multi-responsive polymersomes. These advanced nanocarriers are engineered to deliver drugs precisely to tumor sites by responding to specific stimuli such as pH, temperature, light, hypoxia, and redox conditions, thereby minimizing the side effects associated with traditional chemotherapy. We discuss the design, synthesis, and recent applications of polymersomes, emphasizing their ability to improve therapeutic outcomes through controlled drug release and targeted delivery. Moreover, we highlight the critical areas for future research, including the optimization of polymersome-biological interactions and biocompatibility, to facilitate their clinical adoption. Multi-responsive polymersomes emerge as a promising development in nanomedicine, offering a pathway to safer and more effective cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Negut
- Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, 077125 Magurele, Romania;
| | - Bogdan Bita
- Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, 077125 Magurele, Romania;
- National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Magurele, Romania
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39
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Thomas M, Varlas S, Wilks TR, Fielden SDP, O'Reilly RK. Controlled node growth on the surface of polymersomes. Chem Sci 2024; 15:4396-4402. [PMID: 38516085 PMCID: PMC10952076 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05915d] [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: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Incorporating nucleobases into synthetic polymers has proven to be a versatile method for controlling self-assembly. The formation of strong directional hydrogen bonds between complementary nucleobases provides a driving force that permits access to complex particle morphologies. Here, nucleobase pairing was used to direct the formation and lengthening of nodes on the outer surface of vesicles formed from polymers (polymersomes) functionalised with adenine in their membrane-forming domains. Insertion of a self-assembling short diblock copolymer containing thymine into the polymersome membranes caused an increase in steric crowding at the hydrophilic/hydrophobic interface, which was relieved by initial node formation and subsequent growth. Nano-objects were imaged by (cryo-)TEM, which permitted quantification of node coverage and length. The ability to control node growth on the surface of polymersomes provides a new platform to develop higher-order nanomaterials with tailorable properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolaine Thomas
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK
| | - Spyridon Varlas
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK
| | - Thomas R Wilks
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK
| | - Stephen D P Fielden
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK
| | - Rachel K O'Reilly
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK
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40
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Jäger E, Ilina O, Dölen Y, Valente M, van Dinther EA, Jäger A, Figdor CG, Verdoes M. pH and ROS Responsiveness of Polymersome Nanovaccines for Antigen and Adjuvant Codelivery: An In Vitro and In Vivo Comparison. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:1749-1758. [PMID: 38236997 PMCID: PMC10934262 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The antitumor immunity can be enhanced through the synchronized codelivery of antigens and immunostimulatory adjuvants to antigen-presenting cells, particularly dendritic cells (DCs), using nanovaccines (NVs). To study the influence of intracellular vaccine cargo release kinetics on the T cell activating capacities of DCs, we compared stimuli-responsive to nonresponsive polymersome NVs. To do so, we employed "AND gate" multiresponsive (MR) amphiphilic block copolymers that decompose only in response to the combination of chemical cues present in the environment of the intracellular compartments in antigen cross-presenting DCs: low pH and high reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. After being unmasked by ROS, pH-responsive side chains are exposed and can undergo a charge shift within a relevant pH window of the intracellular compartments in antigen cross-presenting DCs. NVs containing the model antigen Ovalbumin (OVA) and the iNKT cell activating adjuvant α-Galactosylceramide (α-Galcer) were fabricated using microfluidics self-assembly. The MR NVs outperformed the nonresponsive NV in vitro, inducing enhanced classical- and cross-presentation of the OVA by DCs, effectively activating CD8+, CD4+ T cells, and iNKT cells. Interestingly, in vivo, the nonresponsive NVs outperformed the responsive vaccines. These differences in polymersome vaccine performance are likely linked to the kinetics of cargo release, highlighting the crucial chemical requirements for successful cancer nanovaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliézer Jäger
- Institute
of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of
Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovsky Sq. 2, 162 06 Prague, Czech Republic
- Department
of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University
Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Olga Ilina
- Department
of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University
Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Yusuf Dölen
- Department
of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University
Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Valente
- Department
of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University
Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Eric A.W. van Dinther
- Department
of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University
Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alessandro Jäger
- Institute
of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of
Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovsky Sq. 2, 162 06 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Carl G. Figdor
- Department
of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University
Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Institute
for Chemical Immunology, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn Verdoes
- Department
of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University
Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Institute
for Chemical Immunology, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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41
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Hua C, Qiu L. Polymersomes for Therapeutic Protein and Peptide Delivery: Towards Better Loading Properties. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:2317-2340. [PMID: 38476284 PMCID: PMC10929215 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s444910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Therapeutics based on proteins and peptides have profoundly transformed the landscape of treatment for diseases, from diabetes mellitus to cancers, yet the short half-life and low bioavailability of therapeutic proteins and peptides hinder their wide applications. To break through this bottleneck, biomolecules-loaded polymersomes with strong adjustability and versatility have attracted more and more attentions recently. Loading proteins or peptides into polymersomes is the first but extremely important step towards developing high-quality formulation products. However, increasing protein and peptide loading content is quite challenging due to the inherent nature of self-assembled vesicle formation mechanism and physiochemical characteristics of biomacromolecules. This review highlights the potential of polymersomes as the next-generation therapeutic proteins and peptides carrier and emphatically introduces novel approaches and recent progress to achieve satisfactory encapsulation capability of polymersomes for proteins and peptides. On the one hand, with the help of intermolecular interactions, such as electrostatic, lipid-protein, and hydrophobic interactions, the drug loading could be significantly improved. On the other hand, loading improvement could be attained through innovation of preparation methods, ranging from modified traditional film hydration techniques to the novel phase-guided assembly method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengxu Hua
- Ministry of Educational (MOE) Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liyan Qiu
- Ministry of Educational (MOE) Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China
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42
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Li B, Li J, Chen S, Yuan Q, Fang C, Gan W. Monitoring the response of a model protocell to dye and surfactant molecules through second harmonic generation and fluorescence imaging. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:8148-8157. [PMID: 38380536 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp00009a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Probing the interaction between molecules and protocells is crucial for understanding the passive transport of functional molecules in and out of artificial and real cells. Second-harmonic generation (SHG) has been proven to be a powerful method for analyzing the adsorption and cross-membrane transport of molecules on lipid bilayers. In this study, we used SHG and two-photon fluorescence (TPF) imaging to study the interaction of charged dye molecules (D289) with a lipid vesicle. Unexpectedly, it was observed that the transport of D289 at a relatively high concentration is not as efficient as that at a lower dye concentration. Periodic shrinking of the model protocell and discharging of D289 out from the vesicle were revealed by combined analyses of SHG and TPF images. The response of the vesicle to a surfactant was also analyzed with D289 as a probe. This work demonstrates that the combined SHG and TPF imaging method is a unique approach that can provide detailed information on the interaction of molecules and lipids (both morphology and molecular kinetics). Determining these subtle interfacial kinetics in molecules is important for understanding the mechanism of many biophysical processes occurring on lipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bifei Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Flexible Printed Electronics Technology, School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), University Town, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China.
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Jianhui Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Flexible Printed Electronics Technology, School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), University Town, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China.
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Shujiao Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Flexible Printed Electronics Technology, School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), University Town, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China.
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Qunhui Yuan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Flexible Printed Electronics Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), University Town, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China.
| | - Chao Fang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Flexible Printed Electronics Technology, School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), University Town, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China.
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Wei Gan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Flexible Printed Electronics Technology, School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), University Town, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China.
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China
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43
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Nsairat H, Ibrahim AA, Jaber AM, Abdelghany S, Atwan R, Shalan N, Abdelnabi H, Odeh F, El-Tanani M, Alshaer W. Liposome bilayer stability: emphasis on cholesterol and its alternatives. J Liposome Res 2024; 34:178-202. [PMID: 37378553 DOI: 10.1080/08982104.2023.2226216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Liposomes are spherical lipidic nanocarriers composed of natural or synthetic phospholipids with a hydrophobic bilayer and aqueous core, which are arranged into a polar head and a long hydrophobic tail, forming an amphipathic nano/micro-particle. Despite numerous liposomal applications, their use encounters many challenges related to the physicochemical properties strongly affected by their constituents, colloidal stability, and interactions with the biological environment. This review aims to provide a perspective and a clear idea about the main factors that regulate the liposomes' colloidal and bilayer stability, emphasising the roles of cholesterol and its possible alternatives. Moreover, this review will analyse strategies that offer possible approaches to provide more stable in vitro and in vivo liposomes with enhanced drug release and encapsulation efficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamdi Nsairat
- Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Abed Alqader Ibrahim
- Department of Nanoscience, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Areej M Jaber
- Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
| | | | - Randa Atwan
- Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Naeem Shalan
- Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Hiba Abdelnabi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
- Cell Therapy Center, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Fadwa Odeh
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Mohamed El-Tanani
- Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
| | - Walhan Alshaer
- Cell Therapy Center, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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44
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Sebtosheikh M, Naji A. Active osmoticlike pressure on permeable inclusions. Phys Rev E 2024; 109:034607. [PMID: 38632760 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.109.034607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
We use a standard minimal active Brownian model to investigate the osmotic-like effective pressure generated by active fluids on fixed hollow inclusions. These inclusions are enclosed by a permeable (albeit nonflexible) membrane, and the interior and exterior regions of the inclusions have different particle motility strengths. We consider both rectangular and disklike inclusions and analyze the effects of various system parameters, such as excluded volume interaction between active particles, hardness of membrane, and active particle density, on the effective pressure produced on the enclosing membrane. We focus on the range of intermediate to high motility strengths and analyze the effective pressure in the steady state. Our findings for the active pressure produced in the interior and exterior regions of the inclusion indicate that the pressure is higher in the region with lower motility due to the relatively stronger accumulation of active particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Sebtosheikh
- School of Nano Science, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran 19538-33511, Iran
- School of Physics, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran 19538-33511, Iran
| | - Ali Naji
- School of Nano Science, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran 19538-33511, Iran
- Department of Physics, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman
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45
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Muthwill MS, Bina M, Paracini N, Coats JP, Merget S, Yorulmaz Avsar S, Messmer D, Tiefenbacher K, Palivan CG. Planar Polymer Membranes Accommodate Functional Self-Assembly of Inserted Resorcinarene Nanocapsules. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024. [PMID: 38422470 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c18687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Solid-supported polymer membranes (SSPMs) offer great potential in material and life sciences due to their increased mechanical stability and robustness compared to solid-supported lipid membranes. However, there is still a need for expanding the functionality of SSPMs by combining them with synthetic molecular assemblies. In this study, SSPMs served as a flexible matrix for the insertion of resorcinarene monomers and their self-assembly into functional hexameric resorcinarene capsules. Resorcinarene capsules provide a large cavity with affinity specifically for cationic and polyhydroxylated molecules. While the capsules are stable in apolar organic solvents, they disassemble when placed in polar solvents, which limits their application. Here, a solvent-assisted approach was used for copolymer membrane deposition on solid support and simultaneous insertion of the resorcinarene monomers. By investigation of the molecular factors and conditions supporting the codeposition of the copolymer and resorcinarene monomers, a stable hybrid membrane was formed. The hydrophobic domain of the membrane played a crucial role by providing a sufficiently thick and apolar layer, allowing for the self-assembly of the capsules. The capsules were functional inside the membranes by encapsulating cationic guests from the aqueous environment. The amount of resorcinarene capsules in the hybrid membranes was quantified by a combination of quartz-crystal microbalance with dissipation and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, while the membrane topography and layer composition were analyzed by atomic force microscopy and neutron reflectometry. Functional resorcinarene capsules inside SSPMs can serve as dynamic sensors and potentially as cross-membrane transporters, thus holding great promise for the development of smart surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz S Muthwill
- Biointerfacing Nanomaterials Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, BPR 1096, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
- NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering, Mattenstrasse 22, BPR 1095, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maryame Bina
- Biointerfacing Nanomaterials Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, BPR 1096, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicolò Paracini
- Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 20156, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - John Peter Coats
- Biointerfacing Nanomaterials Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, BPR 1096, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Severin Merget
- NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering, Mattenstrasse 22, BPR 1095, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, BPR 1096, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Saziye Yorulmaz Avsar
- Biointerfacing Nanomaterials Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, BPR 1096, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Messmer
- Biointerfacing Nanomaterials Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, BPR 1096, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Konrad Tiefenbacher
- NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering, Mattenstrasse 22, BPR 1095, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, BPR 1096, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cornelia G Palivan
- Biointerfacing Nanomaterials Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, BPR 1096, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
- NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering, Mattenstrasse 22, BPR 1095, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
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46
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Tian F, Zhou Y, Ma Z, Tang R, Wang X. Organismal Function Enhancement through Biomaterial Intervention. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 14:377. [PMID: 38392750 PMCID: PMC10891834 DOI: 10.3390/nano14040377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Living organisms in nature, such as magnetotactic bacteria and eggs, generate various organic-inorganic hybrid materials, providing unique functionalities. Inspired by such natural hybrid materials, researchers can reasonably integrate biomaterials with living organisms either internally or externally to enhance their inherent capabilities and generate new functionalities. Currently, the approaches to enhancing organismal function through biomaterial intervention have undergone rapid development, progressing from the cellular level to the subcellular or multicellular level. In this review, we will concentrate on three key strategies related to biomaterial-guided bioenhancement, including biointerface engineering, artificial organelles, and 3D multicellular immune niches. For biointerface engineering, excess of amino acid residues on the surfaces of cells or viruses enables the assembly of materials to form versatile artificial shells, facilitating vaccine engineering and biological camouflage. Artificial organelles refer to artificial subcellular reactors made of biomaterials that persist in the cytoplasm, which imparts cells with on-demand regulatory ability. Moreover, macroscale biomaterials with spatiotemporal regulation characters enable the local recruitment and aggregation of cells, denoting multicellular niche to enhance crosstalk between cells and antigens. Collectively, harnessing the programmable chemical and biological attributes of biomaterials for organismal function enhancement shows significant potential in forthcoming biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengchao Tian
- Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (F.T.); (Y.Z.)
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
| | - Yuemin Zhou
- Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (F.T.); (Y.Z.)
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
| | - Zaiqiang Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
| | - Ruikang Tang
- Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (F.T.); (Y.Z.)
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (F.T.); (Y.Z.)
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47
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Luo ZH, Chen C, Zhao QH, Deng NN. Functional metal-phenolic cortical cytoskeleton for artificial cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj4047. [PMID: 38363847 PMCID: PMC10871533 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj4047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Cortex-like cytoskeleton, a thin layer of cross-linked cytoplasmic proteins underlying the cell membrane, plays an essential role in modulating membrane behavior and cell surface properties. However, bottom-up construction of functional cortex-like cytoskeleton in artificial cells remains a challenge. Here, we present metal-phenolic networks as artificial cortical cytoskeletons in liposome-based artificial cells. The metal-phenolic cytoskeleton-reinforced artificial cells exhibit long-term stability, enhanced resistance to a variety of harsh environments, tunable permeability, and well-controlled morphologies. We anticipate that our stable artificial cell models will stride forward to practical applications of liposome-based microsystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Hong Luo
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Qi-Hong Zhao
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Nan-Nan Deng
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai 200240, China
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Sichuan Research Institute, Chengdu 610213, Sichuan, China
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48
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Sinsinbar G, Bindra AK, Liu S, Chia TW, Yoong Eng EC, Loo SY, Lam JH, Schultheis K, Nallani M. Amphiphilic Block Copolymer Nanostructures as a Tunable Delivery Platform: Perspective and Framework for the Future Drug Product Development. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:541-563. [PMID: 38240244 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Nanoformulation of active payloads or pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) has always been an area of interest to achieve targeted, sustained, and efficacious delivery. Various delivery platforms have been explored, but loading and delivery of APIs have been challenging because of the chemical and structural properties of these molecules. Polymersomes made from amphiphilic block copolymers (ABCPs) have shown enormous promise as a tunable API delivery platform and confer multifold advantages over lipid-based systems. For example, a COVID booster vaccine comprising polymersomes encapsulating spike protein (ACM-001) has recently completed a Phase I clinical trial and provides a case for developing safe drug products based on ABCP delivery platforms. However, several limitations need to be resolved before they can reach their full potential. In this Perspective, we would like to highlight such aspects requiring further development for translating an ABCP-based delivery platform from a proof of concept to a viable commercial product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Sinsinbar
- ACM Biolabs Pte Ltd., 71 Nanyang Drive, #02M-02, NTU Innovation Center, Singapore 638075, Singapore
| | - Anivind Kaur Bindra
- ACM Biolabs Pte Ltd., 71 Nanyang Drive, #02M-02, NTU Innovation Center, Singapore 638075, Singapore
| | - Shaoqiong Liu
- ACM Biolabs Pte Ltd., 71 Nanyang Drive, #02M-02, NTU Innovation Center, Singapore 638075, Singapore
| | - Teck Wan Chia
- ACM Biolabs Pte Ltd., 71 Nanyang Drive, #02M-02, NTU Innovation Center, Singapore 638075, Singapore
| | - Eunice Chia Yoong Eng
- ACM Biolabs Pte Ltd., 71 Nanyang Drive, #02M-02, NTU Innovation Center, Singapore 638075, Singapore
| | - Ser Yue Loo
- ACM Biolabs Pte Ltd., 71 Nanyang Drive, #02M-02, NTU Innovation Center, Singapore 638075, Singapore
| | - Jian Hang Lam
- ACM Biolabs Pte Ltd., 71 Nanyang Drive, #02M-02, NTU Innovation Center, Singapore 638075, Singapore
| | - Katherine Schultheis
- ACM Biolabs Pte Ltd., 71 Nanyang Drive, #02M-02, NTU Innovation Center, Singapore 638075, Singapore
| | - Madhavan Nallani
- ACM Biolabs Pte Ltd., 71 Nanyang Drive, #02M-02, NTU Innovation Center, Singapore 638075, Singapore
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49
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Gaur D, Dubey NC, Tripathi BP. Designing Configurable Soft Microgelsomes as a Smart Biomimetic Protocell. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:1108-1118. [PMID: 38236272 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Self-assembly is an intriguing aspect of primitive cells. The construction of a semipermeable compartment with a robust framework of soft material capable of housing an array of functional components for chemical changes is essential for the fabrication of synthetic protocells. Microgels, loosely cross-linked polymer networks, are suitable building blocks for protocell capsule generation due to their porous structure, tunable properties, and assembly at the emulsion interface. Here, we present an interfacial assembly of microgel-based microcompartments (microgelsomes, MGC) that are defined by a semipermeable, temperature-responsive elastic membrane formed by densely packed microgels in a monolayer. The water-dispersible microgelsomes can thermally shuttle between 10 and 95 °C while retaining their structural integrity. Importantly, the microgelsomes exhibited distinct properties of protocells, such as cargo encapsulation, semipermeable membrane, DNA amplification, and membrane-gated compartmentalized enzymatic cascade reaction. This versatile approach for the construction of biomimetic microcompartments augments the protocell library and paves the way for programmable synthetic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Gaur
- Functional Materials & Membranes Laboratory, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Nidhi C Dubey
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Bijay P Tripathi
- Functional Materials & Membranes Laboratory, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India
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50
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Otrin N, Otrin L, Bednarz C, Träger TK, Hamdi F, Kastritis PL, Ivanov I, Sundmacher K. Protein-Rich Rafts in Hybrid Polymer/Lipid Giant Unilamellar Vesicles. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:778-791. [PMID: 38190609 PMCID: PMC10865357 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Considerable attention has been dedicated to lipid rafts due to their importance in numerous cell functions such as membrane trafficking, polarization, and signaling. Next to studies in living cells, artificial micrometer-sized vesicles with a minimal set of components are established as a major tool to understand the phase separation dynamics and their intimate interplay with membrane proteins. In parallel, mixtures of phospholipids and certain amphiphilic polymers simultaneously offer an interface for proteins and mimic this segregation behavior, presenting a tangible synthetic alternative for fundamental studies and bottom-up design of cellular mimics. However, the simultaneous insertion of complex and sensitive membrane proteins is experimentally challenging and thus far has been largely limited to natural lipids. Here, we present the co-reconstitution of the proton pump bo3 oxidase and the proton consumer ATP synthase in hybrid polymer/lipid giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) via fusion/electroformation. Variations of the current method allow for tailored reconstitution protocols and control of the vesicle size. In particular, mixing of protein-free and protein-functionalized nanosized vesicles in the electroformation film results in larger GUVs, while separate reconstitution of the respiratory enzymes enables higher ATP synthesis rates. Furthermore, protein labeling provides a synthetic mechanism for phase separation and protein sequestration, mimicking lipid- and protein-mediated domain formation in nature. The latter means opens further possibilities for re-enacting phenomena like supercomplex assembly or symmetry breaking and enriches the toolbox of bottom-up synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nika Otrin
- Process
Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute
for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstrasse 1, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Lado Otrin
- Process
Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute
for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstrasse 1, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Bednarz
- Process
Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute
for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstrasse 1, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Toni K. Träger
- Interdisciplinary
Research Center HALOmem and Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Biozentrum, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Farzad Hamdi
- Interdisciplinary
Research Center HALOmem and Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Biozentrum, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Panagiotis L. Kastritis
- Interdisciplinary
Research Center HALOmem and Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Biozentrum, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute
of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research
Foundation, 11635 Athens, Greece
| | - Ivan Ivanov
- Process
Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute
for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstrasse 1, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
- Grup
de Biotecnologia Molecular i Industrial, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Rambla Sant Nebridi 22, 08222 Terrassa, Spain
| | - Kai Sundmacher
- Process
Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute
for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstrasse 1, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
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