1
|
Perin GB, Moreno S, Zhou Y, Günther M, Boye S, Voit B, Felisberti MI, Appelhans D. Construction of Membraneless and Multicompartmentalized Coacervate Protocells Controlling a Cell Metabolism-like Cascade Reaction. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:5807-5822. [PMID: 37984848 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00828] [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: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, there has been growing attention to designing synthetic protocells, capable of mimicking micrometric and multicompartmental structures and highly complex physicochemical and biological processes with spatiotemporal control. Controlling metabolism-like cascade reactions in coacervate protocells is still challenging since signal transduction has to be involved in sequential and parallelized actions mediated by a pH change. Herein, we report the hierarchical construction of membraneless and multicompartmentalized protocells composed of (i) a cytosol-like scaffold based on complex coacervate droplets stable under flow conditions, (ii) enzyme-active artificial organelles and a substrate nanoreservoir capable of triggering a cascade reaction between them in response to a pH increase, and (iii) a signal transduction component based on the urease enzyme capable of the conversion of an exogenous biological fuel (urea) into an endogenous signal (ammonia and pH increase). Overall, this strategy allows a synergistic communication between their components within the membraneless and multicompartment protocells and, thus, metabolism-like enzymatic cascade reactions. This signal communication is transmitted through a scaffold protocell from an "inactive state" (nonfluorescent protocell) to an "active state" (fluorescent protocell capable of consuming stored metabolites).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni B Perin
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, 13083-970 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Silvia Moreno
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Yang Zhou
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
- Organic Chemistry of Polymers, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Markus Günther
- Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Susanne Boye
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Brigitte Voit
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
- Organic Chemistry of Polymers, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Maria I Felisberti
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, 13083-970 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dietmar Appelhans
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jang SW, Kumari N, Nam E, Lee YK, Cha Y, An K, Lee IS. Soccer Ball-like Assembly of Edge-to-edge Oriented 2D-silica Nanosheets: A Promising Catalyst Support for High-Temperature Reforming. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023:e202316630. [PMID: 38063060 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202316630] [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: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Controlled assembly of nanoparticles into well-defined assembled architectures through precise manipulation of spatial arrangement and interactions allows the development of advanced mesoscale materials with tailored structures, hierarchical functionalities, and enhanced properties. Despite remarkable advancements, the controlled assembly of highly anisotropic 2Dnanosheets is significantly challenging, primarily due to the limited availability of selective edge-to-edge connectivity compared to the abundant large faces. Innovative strategies are needed to unlock the full potential of 2D-nanomaterialsin self-assembled structures with distinct and desirable properties. This research unveils the discovery of controlled self-assembly of 2D-silica nanosheets (2D-SiNSs) into hollow micron-sized soccer ball-like shells (SA-SiMS). The assembly is driven by the physical flexibility of the 2D-SiNSs and the differential electricdouble-layer charge gradient creating electrostatic bias on the edge and face regions. The resulting SA-SiMS structures exhibit high mechanical stability, even at high-temperatures, and exhibit excellent performance as catalyst support in the dry reforming of methane. The SA-SiMS structures facilitate improved mass transport, leading to enhanced reaction rates, while the thin silica shell prevents sintering of small catalyst nanocrystals, thereby preventing coke formation. This discovery sheds light on the controllable self-assembly of 2D nanomaterials and provides insights into the design and synthesis of advanced mesoscale materials with tailored properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sun Woo Jang
- Center for Nanospace-confined Chemical Reactions (NCCR), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Nitee Kumari
- Center for Nanospace-confined Chemical Reactions (NCCR), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Eonu Nam
- Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 44919, South Korea
| | - Yun Kyung Lee
- Park Systems, KANC 15F, Gwanggyo-ro 109, Suwon, 16229, South Korea
| | - Yunmi Cha
- Park Systems, KANC 15F, Gwanggyo-ro 109, Suwon, 16229, South Korea
| | - Kwangjin An
- Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 44919, South Korea
| | - In Su Lee
- Center for Nanospace-confined Chemical Reactions (NCCR), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, South Korea
- Institute for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology (I-CREATE), Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li S, Wang Z, Lin X, Bian Y, Chen L. Exo I signal amplification of a DNA hydrogel film combined with capillary self-driven action for EpCAM detection. Analyst 2023; 148:4730-4737. [PMID: 37646193 DOI: 10.1039/d3an01011b] [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: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Target-responsive aptamer hydrogels are increasingly used in the field of analytical sensing with different morphologies developed by various strategies. Herein, we developed a DNA hydrogel film combined with capillary self-driven action for the specific detection of the tumor marker EpCAM and further introduced Exo I for signal amplification. EpCAM aptamer was used as a crosslinking agent to construct the DNA hydrogel film. When EpCAM was present, it competed for binding with the EpCAM aptamer, resulting in a permeability change of the DNA hydrogel film attached to one end of the capillary, and leading to different solution flow rates through the capillaries that can be utilized for the quantitative detection of EpCAM. This method did not require any instrument and was easy to use. The distance the solution travelled through the capillary was quantified as the concentration of EpCAM, and only a small amount of DNA hydrogel was required for each detection. The detection limit of EpCAM was as low as 0.018 ng mL-1, while offering the advantages of good stability and specificity, and showing great potential in point-of-care testing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Li
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, P.R. China.
| | - Zhiguang Wang
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, P.R. China.
| | - Xiaoxiao Lin
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, P.R. China.
| | - Yalan Bian
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, P.R. China.
| | - Liqun Chen
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, P.R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Li Z, Wang J, Willner B, Willner I. Topologically Triggered Dynamic DNA Frameworks. Isr J Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ijch.202300013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Li
- The Institute of Chemistry The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem 91904 Israel
| | - Jianbang Wang
- The Institute of Chemistry The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem 91904 Israel
| | - Bilha Willner
- The Institute of Chemistry The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem 91904 Israel
| | - Itamar Willner
- The Institute of Chemistry The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem 91904 Israel
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Nikfarjam S, Gibbons R, Burni F, Raghavan SR, Anisimov MA, Woehl TJ. Chemically Fueled Dissipative Cross-Linking of Protein Hydrogels Mediated by Protein Unfolding. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:1131-1140. [PMID: 36795055 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Cells assemble dynamic protein-based nanostructures far from equilibrium, such as microtubules, in a process referred to as dissipative assembly. Synthetic analogues have utilized chemical fuels and reaction networks to form transient hydrogels and molecular assemblies from small molecule or synthetic polymer building blocks. Here, we demonstrate dissipative cross-linking of transient protein hydrogels using a redox cycle, which exhibit protein unfolding-dependent lifetimes and mechanical properties. Fast oxidation of cysteine groups on bovine serum albumin by hydrogen peroxide, the chemical fuel, formed transient hydrogels with disulfide bond cross-links that degraded over hours by a slow reductive back reaction. Interestingly, despite increased cross-linking, the hydrogel lifetime decreased as a function of increasing denaturant concentration. Experiments showed that the solvent-accessible cysteine concentration increased with increasing denaturant concentration due to unfolding of secondary structures. The increased cysteine concentration consumed more fuel, which led to less direction oxidation of the reducing agent and affected a shorter hydrogel lifetime. Increased hydrogel stiffness, disulfide cross-linking density, and decreased oxidation of redox-sensitive fluorescent probes at a high denaturant concentration provided evidence supporting the unveiling of additional cysteine cross-linking sites and more rapid consumption of hydrogen peroxide at higher denaturant concentrations. Taken together, the results indicate that the protein secondary structure mediated the transient hydrogel lifetime and mechanical properties by mediating the redox reactions, a feature unique to biomacromolecules that exhibit a higher order structure. While prior works have focused on the effects of the fuel concentration on dissipative assembly of non-biological molecules, this work demonstrates that the protein structure, even in nearly fully denatured proteins, can exert similar control over reaction kinetics, lifetime, and resulting mechanical properties of transient hydrogels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shakiba Nikfarjam
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Rebecca Gibbons
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Faraz Burni
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Srinivasa R Raghavan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Mikhail A Anisimov
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
- Institute for Physical Sciences and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Taylor J Woehl
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang P, Zhuo Y, Chai YQ, Yuan R. Structural DNA tetrahedra and its electrochemical-related surface sensing. Trends Analyt Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2023.116979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
|
7
|
Dong J, Willner I. Dynamic Transcription Machineries Guide the Synthesis of Temporally Operating DNAzymes, Gated and Cascaded DNAzyme Catalysis. ACS NANO 2023; 17:687-696. [PMID: 36576858 PMCID: PMC9836355 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c10108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Transient transcription machineries play important roles in the dynamic modulation of gene expression and the sequestered regulation of cellular networks. The present study emulates such processes by designing artificial reaction modules consisting of transcription machineries that guide the transient synthesis of catalytic DNAzymes, the transient operation of gated DNAzymes, and the temporal activation of an intercommunicated DNAzyme cascade. The reaction modules rely on functional constituents that lead to the triggered activation of transcription machineries in the presence of the nucleoside triphosphates oligonucleotide fuel, yielding the transient formation and dissipative depletion of the intermediate DNAzyme(s) products. The kinetics of the transient DNAzyme networks are computationally simulated, allowing to predict and experimentally validate the performance of the systems under different auxiliary conditions. The study advances the field of systems chemistry by introducing transcription machinery-based networks for the dynamic control over transient catalysis─a primary step toward life-like cellular assemblies.
Collapse
|
8
|
Fischer A, Zhang P, Ouyang Y, Sohn YS, Karmi O, Nechushtai R, Pikarsky E, Willner I. DNA-Tetrahedra Corona-Modified Hydrogel Microcapsules: "Smart" ATP- or microRNA-Responsive Drug Carriers. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2204108. [PMID: 36351764 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202204108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The assembly of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-responsive and miRNA-responsive DNA tetrahedra-functionalized carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel microcapsules is presented. The microcapsules are loaded with the doxorubicin-dextran drug or with CdSe/ZnS quantum dots as a drug model. Selective unlocking of the respective microcapsules and the release of the loads in the presence of ATP or miRNA-141 are demonstrated. Functionalization of the hydrogel microcapsules a with corona of DNA tetrahedra nanostructures yields microcarriers that revealed superior permeation into cells. This is demonstrated by the effective permeation of the DNA tetrahedra-functionalized microcapsules into MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, as compared to epithelial MCF-10A nonmalignant breast cells. The superior permeation of the tetrahedra-functionalized microcapsules into MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, as compared to analog control hydrogel microcapsules modified with a corona of nucleic acid duplexes. The effective permeation of the stimuli-responsive, drug-loaded, DNA tetrahedra-modified microcapsules yields drug carriers of superior and selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amit Fischer
- Institute of Chemistry, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Pu Zhang
- Institute of Chemistry, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Yu Ouyang
- Institute of Chemistry, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Yang Sung Sohn
- Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Ola Karmi
- Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Rachel Nechushtai
- Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Eli Pikarsky
- The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, The Hebrew University, of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Itamar Willner
- Institute of Chemistry, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhang P, Fischer A, Ouyang Y, Sohn YS, Nechushtai R, Zhang J, Tian H, Fan C, Willner I. Topologically switchable and gated transcription machinery. Chem Sci 2022; 13:10555-10565. [PMID: 36277654 PMCID: PMC9473513 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc01599d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Three different topological barriers to switch transcription machineries were introduced including Sr2+-ion stabilized G-quadruplex units, T-A·T triplex structures and photoisomerizable azobenzene-nucleic acid blockers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pu Zhang
- Institute of Chemistry, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Amit Fischer
- Institute of Chemistry, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Yu Ouyang
- Institute of Chemistry, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Yang Sung Sohn
- Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Rachel Nechushtai
- Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Junji Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - He Tian
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunhai Fan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240, Shanghai, China
| | - Itamar Willner
- Institute of Chemistry, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| |
Collapse
|