1
|
Kim SE, Yun S, Doh J, Kim HN. Imaging-Based Efficacy Evaluation of Cancer Immunotherapy in Engineered Tumor Platforms and Tumor Organoids. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2400475. [PMID: 38815251 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202400475] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy is used to treat tumors by modulating the immune system. Although the anticancer efficacy of cancer immunotherapy has been evaluated prior to clinical trials, conventional in vivo animal and endpoint models inadequately replicate the intricate process of tumor elimination and reflect human-specific immune systems. Therefore, more sophisticated models that mimic the complex tumor-immune microenvironment must be employed to assess the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Additionally, using real-time imaging technology, a step-by-step evaluation can be applied, allowing for a more precise assessment of treatment efficacy. Here, an overview of the various imaging-based evaluation platforms recently developed for cancer immunotherapeutic applications is presented. Specifically, a fundamental technique is discussed for stably observing immune cell-based tumor cell killing using direct imaging, a microwell that reproduces a confined space for spatial observation, a droplet assay that facilitates cell-cell interactions, and a 3D microphysiological system that reconstructs the vascular environment. Furthermore, it is suggested that future evaluation platforms pursue more human-like immune systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seong-Eun Kim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, South Korea
| | - Suji Yun
- Interdisciplinary Program for Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Junsang Doh
- Interdisciplinary Program for Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Research Institute of Advanced Materials, Institute of Engineering Research, Bio-MAX institute, Soft Foundry Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Hong Nam Kim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, South Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Yonsei-KIST Convergence Research Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fasciano S, Wang S. Recent advances of droplet-based microfluidics for engineering artificial cells. SLAS Technol 2024; 29:100090. [PMID: 37245659 DOI: 10.1016/j.slast.2023.05.002] [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: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Artificial cells, synthetic cells, or minimal cells are microengineered cell-like structures that mimic the biological functions of cells. Artificial cells are typically biological or polymeric membranes where biologically active components, including proteins, genes, and enzymes, are encapsulated. The goal of engineering artificial cells is to build a living cell with the least amount of parts and complexity. Artificial cells hold great potential for several applications, including membrane protein interactions, gene expression, biomaterials, and drug development. It is critical to generate robust, stable artificial cells using high throughput, easy-to-control, and flexible techniques. Recently, droplet-based microfluidic techniques have shown great potential for the synthesis of vesicles and artificial cells. Here, we summarized the recent advances in droplet-based microfluidic techniques for the fabrication of vesicles and artificial cells. We first reviewed the different types of droplet-based microfluidic devices, including flow-focusing, T-junction, and coflowing. Next, we discussed the formation of multi-compartmental vesicles and artificial cells based on droplet-based microfluidics. The applications of artificial cells for studying gene expression dynamics, artificial cell-cell communications, and mechanobiology are highlighted and discussed. Finally, the current challenges and future outlook of droplet-based microfluidic methods for engineering artificial cells are discussed. This review will provide insights into scientific research in synthetic biology, microfluidic devices, membrane interactions, and mechanobiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Fasciano
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shue Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li S, Zhao Y, Wu S, Zhang X, Yang B, Tian L, Han X. Regulation of species metabolism in synthetic community systems by environmental pH oscillations. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7507. [PMID: 37980410 PMCID: PMC10657449 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43398-6] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Constructing a synthetic community system helps scientist understand the complex interactions among species in a community and its environment. Herein, a two-species community is constructed with species A (artificial cells encapsulating pH-responsive molecules and sucrose) and species B (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), which causes the environment to exhibit pH oscillation behaviour due to the generation and dissipation of CO2. In addition, a three-species community is constructed with species A' (artificial cells containing sucrose and G6P), species B, and species C (artificial cells containing NAD+ and G6PDH). The solution pH oscillation regulates the periodical release of G6P from species A'; G6P then enters species C to promote the metabolic reaction that converts NAD+ to NADH. The location of species A' and B determines the metabolism behaviour in species C in the spatially coded three-species communities with CA'B, CBA', and A'CB patterns. The proposed synthetic community system provides a foundation to construct a more complicated microecosystem.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shubin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Yingming Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Shuqi Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Xiangxiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Boyu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Liangfei Tian
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
| | - Xiaojun Han
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ivanov T, Cao S, Bohra N, de Souza Melchiors M, Caire da Silva L, Landfester K. Polymeric Microreactors with pH-Controlled Spatial Localization of Cascade Reactions. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:50755-50764. [PMID: 37903081 PMCID: PMC10636718 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c09196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Lipid and polymer vesicles provide versatile means of creating systems that mimic the architecture of cells. However, these constructs cannot mimic the adaptive compartmentalization observed in cells, where the assembly and disassembly of subcompartments are dynamically modulated by environmental cues. Here, we describe a fully polymeric microreactor with a coacervate-in-vesicle architecture that exhibits an adaptive response to pH. The system was fabricated by microfluidic generation of semipermeable biomimetic polymer vesicles within 1 min using oleyl alcohol as the oil phase. The polymersomes allowed for the diffusion of protons and substrates acting as external signals. Using this method, we were able to construct adaptive microreactors containing internal polyelectrolyte-based catalytic organelles capable of sequestering and localizing enzymes and reaction products in a dynamic process driven by an external stimulus. This approach provides a platform for the rapid and efficient construction of robust adaptive microreactors that can be used in catalysis, biosensing, and cell mimicry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsvetomir Ivanov
- Department of Physical Chemistry
of Polymers, Max Planck Institute for Polymer
Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Shoupeng Cao
- Department of Physical Chemistry
of Polymers, Max Planck Institute for Polymer
Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Nitin Bohra
- Department of Physical Chemistry
of Polymers, Max Planck Institute for Polymer
Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Marina de Souza Melchiors
- Department of Physical Chemistry
of Polymers, Max Planck Institute for Polymer
Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Lucas Caire da Silva
- Department of Physical Chemistry
of Polymers, Max Planck Institute for Polymer
Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Katharina Landfester
- Department of Physical Chemistry
of Polymers, Max Planck Institute for Polymer
Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ngan Ngo TK, Kuo CH, Tu TY. Recent advances in microfluidic-based cancer immunotherapy-on-a-chip strategies. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:011501. [PMID: 36647540 PMCID: PMC9840534 DOI: 10.1063/5.0108792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Despite several extraordinary improvements in cancer immunotherapy, its therapeutic effectiveness against many distinct cancer types remains mostly limited and requires further study. Different microfluidic-based cancer immunotherapy-on-a-chip (ITOC) systems have been developed to help researchers replicate the tumor microenvironment and immune system. Numerous microfluidic platforms can potentially be used to perform various on-chip activities related to early clinical cancer immunotherapy processes, such as improving immune checkpoint blockade therapy, studying immune cell dynamics, evaluating cytotoxicity, and creating vaccines or organoid models from patient samples. In this review, we summarize the most recent advancements in the development of various microfluidic-based ITOC devices for cancer treatment niches and present future perspectives on microfluidic devices for immunotherapy research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thi Kim Ngan Ngo
- Biomedical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Hsiang Kuo
- International Center for Wound Repair and Regeneration, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Yuan Tu
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kramer K, Sari M, Schulze K, Flegel H, Stehr M, Mey I, Janshoff A, Steinem C. From LUVs to GUVs─How to Cover Micrometer-Sized Pores with Membranes. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:8233-8244. [PMID: 36210780 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c05685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Pore-spanning membranes (PSMs) are a versatile tool to investigate membrane-confined processes in a bottom-up approach. Pore sizes in the micrometer range are most suited to visualize PSMs using fluorescence microscopy. However, the preparation of these PSMs relies on the spreading of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). GUV production faces several limitations. Thus, alternative ways to generate PSMs starting from large or small unilamellar vesicles that are more reproducibly prepared are highly desirable. Here we describe a method to produce PSMs obtained from large unilamellar vesicles, making use of droplet-stabilized GUVs generated in a microfluidic device. We analyzed the lipid diffusion in the free-standing and supported parts of the PSMs using z-scan fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments in combination with finite element simulations. Employing atomic force indentation experiments, we also investigated the mechanical properties of the PSMs. Both lipid diffusion constants and lateral membrane tension were compared to those obtained on PSMs derived from electroformed GUVs, which are known to be solvent- and detergent-free, under otherwise identical conditions. Our results demonstrate that the lipid diffusion, as well as the mechanical properties of the resulting PSMs, is almost unaffected by the GUV formation procedure but depends on the chosen substrate functionalization. With the new method in hand, we were able to reconstitute the syntaxin-1A transmembrane domain in microfluidic GUVs and PSMs, which was visualized by fluorescence microscopy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Kramer
- Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstrasse 2, 37077Göttingen, Germany
| | - Merve Sari
- Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstrasse 2, 37077Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Schulze
- Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstrasse 2, 37077Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hendrik Flegel
- Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstrasse 2, 37077Göttingen, Germany
| | - Miriam Stehr
- Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstrasse 2, 37077Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ingo Mey
- Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstrasse 2, 37077Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Janshoff
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstrasse 6, 37077Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Steinem
- Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstrasse 2, 37077Göttingen, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Fassberg 17, 37077Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Gözen I, Köksal ES, Põldsalu I, Xue L, Spustova K, Pedrueza-Villalmanzo E, Ryskulov R, Meng F, Jesorka A. Protocells: Milestones and Recent Advances. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2106624. [PMID: 35322554 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202106624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The origin of life is still one of humankind's great mysteries. At the transition between nonliving and living matter, protocells, initially featureless aggregates of abiotic matter, gain the structure and functions necessary to fulfill the criteria of life. Research addressing protocells as a central element in this transition is diverse and increasingly interdisciplinary. The authors review current protocell concepts and research directions, address milestones, challenges and existing hypotheses in the context of conditions on the early Earth, and provide a concise overview of current protocell research methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irep Gözen
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Elif Senem Köksal
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Inga Põldsalu
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Lin Xue
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Karolina Spustova
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Esteban Pedrueza-Villalmanzo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
- Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, Universitetsplatsen 1, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden
| | - Ruslan Ryskulov
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
| | - Fanda Meng
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
- School of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250000, China
| | - Aldo Jesorka
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Carvalho BG, Ceccato BT, Michelon M, Han SW, de la Torre LG. Advanced Microfluidic Technologies for Lipid Nano-Microsystems from Synthesis to Biological Application. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:141. [PMID: 35057037 PMCID: PMC8781930 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14010141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidics is an emerging technology that can be employed as a powerful tool for designing lipid nano-microsized structures for biological applications. Those lipid structures can be used as carrying vehicles for a wide range of drugs and genetic materials. Microfluidic technology also allows the design of sustainable processes with less financial demand, while it can be scaled up using parallelization to increase production. From this perspective, this article reviews the recent advances in the synthesis of lipid-based nanostructures through microfluidics (liposomes, lipoplexes, lipid nanoparticles, core-shell nanoparticles, and biomimetic nanovesicles). Besides that, this review describes the recent microfluidic approaches to produce lipid micro-sized structures as giant unilamellar vesicles. New strategies are also described for the controlled release of the lipid payloads using microgels and droplet-based microfluidics. To address the importance of microfluidics for lipid-nanoparticle screening, an overview of how microfluidic systems can be used to mimic the cellular environment is also presented. Future trends and perspectives in designing novel nano and micro scales are also discussed herein.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruna G. Carvalho
- Department of Material and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-852, Brazil; (B.G.C.); (B.T.C.)
| | - Bruno T. Ceccato
- Department of Material and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-852, Brazil; (B.G.C.); (B.T.C.)
| | - Mariano Michelon
- School of Chemical and Food Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil;
| | - Sang W. Han
- Center for Cell Therapy and Molecular, Department of Biophysics, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04044-010, Brazil;
| | - Lucimara G. de la Torre
- Department of Material and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-852, Brazil; (B.G.C.); (B.T.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Biocatalytic self-assembled synthetic vesicles and coacervates: From single compartment to artificial cells. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 299:102566. [PMID: 34864354 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2021.102566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Compartmentalization is an intrinsic feature of living cells that allows spatiotemporal control over the biochemical pathways expressed in them. Over the years, a library of compartmentalized systems has been generated, which includes nano to micrometer sized biomimetic vesicles derived from lipids, amphiphilic block copolymers, peptides, and nanoparticles. Biocatalytic vesicles have been developed using a simple bag containing enzyme design of liposomes to multienzymes immobilized multi-vesicular compartments for artificial cell generation. Additionally, enzymes were also entrapped in membrane-less coacervate droplets to mimic the cytoplasmic macromolecular crowding mechanisms. Here, we have discussed different types of single and multicompartment systems, emphasizing their recent developments as biocatalytic self-assembled structures using recent examples. Importantly, we have summarized the strategies in the development of the self-assembled structure to improvise their adaptivity and flexibility for enzyme immobilization. Finally, we have presented the use of biocatalytic assemblies in mimicking different aspects of living cells, which further carves the path for the engineering of a minimal cell.
Collapse
|
10
|
Tivony R, Fletcher M, Al Nahas K, Keyser UF. A Microfluidic Platform for Sequential Assembly and Separation of Synthetic Cell Models. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:3105-3116. [PMID: 34761904 PMCID: PMC8609574 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Cell-sized vesicles
like giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are
established as a promising biomimetic model for studying cellular
phenomena in isolation. However, the presence of residual components
and byproducts, generated during vesicles preparation and manipulation,
severely limits the utility of GUVs in applications like synthetic
cells. Therefore, with the rapidly growing field of synthetic biology,
there is an emergent demand for techniques that can continuously purify
cell-like vesicles from diverse residues, while GUVs are being simultaneously
synthesized and manipulated. We have developed a microfluidic platform
capable of purifying GUVs through stream bifurcation, where a vesicles
suspension is partitioned into three fractions: purified GUVs, residual
components, and a washing solution. Using our purification approach,
we show that giant vesicles can be separated from various residues—which
range in size and chemical composition—with a very high efficiency
(e = 0.99), based on size and deformability of the
filtered objects. In addition, by incorporating the purification module
with a microfluidic-based GUV-formation method, octanol-assisted liposome
assembly (OLA), we established an integrated production-purification
microfluidic unit that sequentially produces, manipulates, and purifies
GUVs. We demonstrate the applicability of the integrated device to
synthetic biology through sequentially fusing SUVs with freshly prepared
GUVs and separating the fused GUVs from extraneous SUVs and oil droplets
at the same time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ran Tivony
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K
| | - Marcus Fletcher
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K
| | - Kareem Al Nahas
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K
| | - Ulrich F. Keyser
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Amirifar L, Besanjideh M, Nasiri R, Shamloo A, Nasrollahi F, de Barros NR, Davoodi E, Erdem A, Mahmoodi M, Hosseini V, Montazerian H, Jahangiry J, Darabi MA, Haghniaz R, Dokmeci MR, Annabi N, Ahadian S, Khademhosseini A. Droplet-based microfluidics in biomedical applications. Biofabrication 2021; 14. [PMID: 34781274 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac39a9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidic systems have been employed to manipulate discrete fluid volumes with immiscible phases. Creating the fluid droplets at microscale has led to a paradigm shift in mixing, sorting, encapsulation, sensing, and designing high throughput devices for biomedical applications. Droplet microfluidics has opened many opportunities in microparticle synthesis, molecular detection, diagnostics, drug delivery, and cell biology. In the present review, we first introduce standard methods for droplet generation (i.e., passive and active methods) and discuss the latest examples of emulsification and particle synthesis approaches enabled by microfluidic platforms. Then, the applications of droplet-based microfluidics in different biomedical applications are detailed. Finally, a general overview of the latest trends along with the perspectives and future potentials in the field are provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leyla Amirifar
- Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, Tehran, 11365-11155, Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | - Mohsen Besanjideh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Tehran, 11365-11155, Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | - Rohollah Nasiri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Tehran, 11365-11155, Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | - Amir Shamloo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Tehran, 11365-11155, Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | | | - Natan Roberto de Barros
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90024, UNITED STATES
| | - Elham Davoodi
- Bioengineering, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095, UNITED STATES
| | - Ahmet Erdem
- Bioengineering, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095, UNITED STATES
| | | | - Vahid Hosseini
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90024, UNITED STATES
| | - Hossein Montazerian
- Bioengineering, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095, UNITED STATES
| | - Jamileh Jahangiry
- University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095, UNITED STATES
| | | | - Reihaneh Haghniaz
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90024, UNITED STATES
| | - Mehmet R Dokmeci
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90024, UNITED STATES
| | - Nasim Annabi
- Chemical Engineering, UCLA, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095, UNITED STATES
| | - Samad Ahadian
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90024, UNITED STATES
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90024, UNITED STATES
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Rubio-Sánchez R, Barker SE, Walczak M, Cicuta P, Michele LD. A Modular, Dynamic, DNA-Based Platform for Regulating Cargo Distribution and Transport between Lipid Domains. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:2800-2808. [PMID: 33733783 PMCID: PMC8050828 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c04867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Cell membranes regulate the distribution of biological machinery between phase-separated lipid domains to facilitate key processes including signaling and transport, which are among the life-like functionalities that bottom-up synthetic biology aims to replicate in artificial-cellular systems. Here, we introduce a modular approach to program partitioning of amphiphilic DNA nanostructures in coexisting lipid domains. Exploiting the tendency of different hydrophobic "anchors" to enrich different phases, we modulate the lateral distribution of our devices by rationally combining hydrophobes and by changing nanostructure size and topology. We demonstrate the functionality of our strategy with a bioinspired DNA architecture, which dynamically undergoes ligand-induced reconfiguration to mediate cargo transport between domains via lateral redistribution. Our findings pave the way to next-generation biomimetic platforms for sensing, transduction, and communication in synthetic cellular systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roger Rubio-Sánchez
- Biological
and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Simone Eizagirre Barker
- Biological
and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Michal Walczak
- Biological
and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Pietro Cicuta
- Biological
and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Lorenzo Di Michele
- Biological
and Soft Systems, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
- Molecular
Sciences Research Hub, Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Elani Y. Interfacing Living and Synthetic Cells as an Emerging Frontier in Synthetic Biology. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 133:5662-5671. [PMID: 38505493 PMCID: PMC10946473 DOI: 10.1002/ange.202006941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The construction of artificial cells from inanimate molecular building blocks is one of the grand challenges of our time. In addition to being used as simplified cell models to decipher the rules of life, artificial cells have the potential to be designed as micromachines deployed in a host of clinical and industrial applications. The attractions of engineering artificial cells from scratch, as opposed to re-engineering living biological cells, are varied. However, it is clear that artificial cells cannot currently match the power and behavioural sophistication of their biological counterparts. Given this, many in the synthetic biology community have started to ask: is it possible to interface biological and artificial cells together to create hybrid living/synthetic systems that leverage the advantages of both? This article will discuss the motivation behind this cellular bionics approach, in which the boundaries between living and non-living matter are blurred by bridging top-down and bottom-up synthetic biology. It details the state of play of this nascent field and introduces three generalised hybridisation modes that have emerged.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemical EngineeringImperial College LondonExhibition RoadLondonUK
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Elani Y. Interfacing Living and Synthetic Cells as an Emerging Frontier in Synthetic Biology. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:5602-5611. [PMID: 32909663 PMCID: PMC7983915 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202006941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The construction of artificial cells from inanimate molecular building blocks is one of the grand challenges of our time. In addition to being used as simplified cell models to decipher the rules of life, artificial cells have the potential to be designed as micromachines deployed in a host of clinical and industrial applications. The attractions of engineering artificial cells from scratch, as opposed to re-engineering living biological cells, are varied. However, it is clear that artificial cells cannot currently match the power and behavioural sophistication of their biological counterparts. Given this, many in the synthetic biology community have started to ask: is it possible to interface biological and artificial cells together to create hybrid living/synthetic systems that leverage the advantages of both? This article will discuss the motivation behind this cellular bionics approach, in which the boundaries between living and non-living matter are blurred by bridging top-down and bottom-up synthetic biology. It details the state of play of this nascent field and introduces three generalised hybridisation modes that have emerged.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemical EngineeringImperial College LondonExhibition RoadLondonUK
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sarkar S, Das S, Dagar S, Joshi MP, Mungi CV, Sawant AA, Patki GM, Rajamani S. Prebiological Membranes and Their Role in the Emergence of Early Cellular Life. J Membr Biol 2020; 253:589-608. [PMID: 33200235 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-020-00155-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Membrane compartmentalization is a fundamental feature of contemporary cellular life. Given this, it is rational to assume that at some stage in the early origins of life, membrane compartments would have potentially emerged to form a dynamic semipermeable barrier in primitive cells (protocells), protecting them from their surrounding environment. It is thought that such prebiological membranes would likely have played a crucial role in the emergence and evolution of life on the early Earth. Extant biological membranes are highly organized and complex, which is a consequence of a protracted evolutionary history. On the other hand, prebiotic membrane assemblies, which are thought to have preceded sophisticated contemporary membranes, are hypothesized to have been relatively simple and composed of single chain amphiphiles. Recent studies indicate that the evolution of prebiotic membranes potentially resulted from interactions between the membrane and its physicochemical environment. These studies have also speculated on the origin, composition, function and influence of environmental conditions on protocellular membranes as the niche parameters would have directly influenced their composition and biophysical properties. Nonetheless, the evolutionary pathways involved in the transition from prebiological membranes to contemporary membranes are largely unknown. This review critically evaluates existing research on prebiotic membranes in terms of their probable origin, composition, energetics, function and evolution. Notably, we outline new approaches that can further our understanding about how prebiotic membranes might have evolved in response to relevant physicochemical parameters that would have acted as pertinent selection pressures on the early Earth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susovan Sarkar
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Souradeep Das
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Shikha Dagar
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Manesh Prakash Joshi
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Chaitanya V Mungi
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Anupam A Sawant
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Gauri M Patki
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Sudha Rajamani
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, 411008, India.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Qian X, Nymann Westensee I, Brodszkij E, Städler B. Cell mimicry as a bottom-up strategy for hierarchical engineering of nature-inspired entities. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 13:e1683. [PMID: 33205632 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Artificial biology is an emerging concept that aims to design and engineer the structure and function of natural cells, organelles, or biomolecules with a combination of biological and abiotic building blocks. Cell mimicry focuses on concepts that have the potential to be integrated with mammalian cells and tissue. In this feature article, we will emphasize the advancements in the past 3-4 years (2017-present) that are dedicated to artificial enzymes, artificial organelles, and artificial mammalian cells. Each aspect will be briefly introduced, followed by highlighting efforts that considered key properties of the different mimics. Finally, the current challenges and opportunities will be outlined. This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Qian
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Edit Brodszkij
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Brigitte Städler
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
|
18
|
Waghwani HK, Uchida M, Fu CY, LaFrance B, Sharma J, McCoy K, Douglas T. Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) as a Platform for Hierarchical Compartmentalization. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:2060-2072. [PMID: 32319761 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Hierarchically self-assembled structures are common in biology, but it is often challenging to design and fabricate synthetic analogs. The archetypal cell is defined by hierarchically organized multicompartmentalized structures with boundaries that delineate the interior from exterior environments and is an inspiration for complex functional materials. Here, we have demonstrated an approach to the design and construction of a nested protein cage system that can additionally incorporate the packing of other functional macromolecules and exhibit some of the features of a minimal synthetic cell-like material. We have demonstrated a strategy for controlled co-packaging of subcompartments, ferritin (Fn) cages, together with active cellobiose-hydrolyzing β-glycosidase enzyme macromolecules, CelB, inside the sequestered volume of the bacteriophage P22 capsid. Using controlled in vitro assembly, we were able to modulate the stoichiometry of Fn cages and CelB encapsulated inside the P22 to control the degree of compartmentalization. The co-encapsulated enzyme CelB showed catalytic activity even when packaged at high total macromolecular concentrations comparable to an intracellular environment. This approach could be used as a model to create synthetic protein-based protocells that can confine smaller functionalized proto-organelles and additional macromolecules to support a range of biochemical reactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hitesh Kumar Waghwani
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Masaki Uchida
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States.,Department of Chemistry, California State University Fresno, Fresno, California 93740, United States
| | - Chi-Yu Fu
- Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States.,Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Benjamin LaFrance
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, United States
| | - Jhanvi Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Kimberly McCoy
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Trevor Douglas
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Yandrapalli N, Seemann T, Robinson T. On-Chip Inverted Emulsion Method for Fast Giant Vesicle Production, Handling, and Analysis. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:E285. [PMID: 32164221 PMCID: PMC7142477 DOI: 10.3390/mi11030285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Liposomes and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) in particular are excellent compartments for constructing artificial cells. Traditionally, their use requires bench-top vesicle growth, followed by experimentation under a microscope. Such steps are time-consuming and can lead to loss of vesicles when they are transferred to an observation chamber. To overcome these issues, we present an integrated microfluidic chip which combines GUV formation, trapping, and multiple separate experiments in the same device. First, we optimized the buffer conditions to maximize both the yield and the subsequent trapping of the vesicles in micro-posts. Captured GUVs were monodisperse with specific size of 18 ± 4 µm in diameter. Next, we introduce a two-layer design with integrated valves which allows fast solution exchange in less than 20 s and on separate sub-populations of the trapped vesicles. We demonstrate that multiple experiments can be performed in a single chip with both membrane transport and permeabilization assays. In conclusion, we have developed a versatile all-in-one microfluidic chip with capabilities to produce and perform multiple experiments on a single batch of vesicles using low sample volumes. We expect this device will be highly advantageous for bottom-up synthetic biology where rapid encapsulation and visualization is required for enzymatic reactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tom Robinson
- Department of Theory & Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Ayoubi-Joshaghani MH, Dianat-Moghadam H, Seidi K, Jahanban-Esfahalan A, Zare P, Jahanban-Esfahlan R. Cell-free protein synthesis: The transition from batch reactions to minimal cells and microfluidic devices. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 117:1204-1229. [PMID: 31840797 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 11/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Thanks to the synthetic biology, the laborious and restrictive procedure for producing a target protein in living microorganisms by biotechnological approaches can now experience a robust, pliant yet efficient alternative. The new system combined with lab-on-chip microfluidic devices and nanotechnology offers a tremendous potential envisioning novel cell-free formats such as DNA brushes, hydrogels, vesicular particles, droplets, as well as solid surfaces. Acting as robust microreactors/microcompartments/minimal cells, the new platforms can be tuned to perform various tasks in a parallel and integrated manner encompassing gene expression, protein synthesis, purification, detection, and finally enabling cell-cell signaling to bring a collective cell behavior, such as directing differentiation process, characteristics of higher order entities, and beyond. In this review, we issue an update on recent cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) formats. Furthermore, the latest advances and applications of CFPS for synthetic biology and biotechnology are highlighted. In the end, contemporary challenges and future opportunities of CFPS systems are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Khaled Seidi
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Peyman Zare
- Faculty of Medicine, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rana Jahanban-Esfahlan
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Aufinger L, Simmel FC. Establishing Communication Between Artificial Cells. Chemistry 2019; 25:12659-12670. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201901726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Aufinger
- Physics Department and ZNNTechnische Universität München Am Coulombwall 4a 85748 Garching Germany
| | - Friedrich C. Simmel
- Physics Department and ZNNTechnische Universität München Am Coulombwall 4a 85748 Garching Germany
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
Cells are the basic units of life, and can be mimicked to create artificial analogs enabling the investigation of cellular mechanisms under controlled conditions. Building biomimetic systems ranging from proto-cells to cell-like objects such as compartment membranes can be achieved by collecting biobricks that self-assemble to build simplified models performing specific functions. Hence, scientists can develop and optimize new synthetic cells with biological functions by taking inspiration from nature and exploiting the advantages of synthetic biology. However, the bottom-down approach is not restricted to the basic principles of biological cells, and new mimicry systems can be designed starting with a combination of living and non-living simple molecules to focus on a cellular machinery function. In recent years, microfluidic devices have been well established to engineer bioarchitecture models resembling cell-like structures involving vesicles, compartmentalization, synthetic membranes, and the chip itself as a synthetic cell. This review aims to highlight the role of biological cells and their impact on inspiring the development of biomimetic models. The combination of the principles of synthetic biology with microfluidic technology represents the newly-introduced field of synthetic cells and synthetic membranes that can be further exploited in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Collapse
|
23
|
Robinson T. Microfluidic Handling and Analysis of Giant Vesicles for Use as Artificial Cells: A Review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 3:e1800318. [PMID: 32648705 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
One of the goals of synthetic biology is the bottom-up construction of an artificial cell, the successful realization of which could shed light on how cellular life emerged and could also be a useful tool for studying the function of modern cells. Using liposomes as biomimetic containers is particularly promising because lipid membranes are biocompatible and much of the required machinery can be reconstituted within them. Giant lipid vesicles have been used extensively in other fields such as biophysics and drug discovery, but their use as artificial cells has only recently seen an increase. Despite the prevalence of giant vesicles, many experiments remain challenging or impossible due to their delicate nature compared to biological cells. This review aims to highlight the effectiveness of microfluidic technologies in handling and analyzing giant vesicles. The advantages and disadvantages of different microfluidic approaches and what new insights can be gained from various applications are introduced. Finally, future directions are discussed in which the unique combination of microfluidics and giant lipid vesicles can push forward the bottom-up construction of artificial cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom Robinson
- Department of Theory & Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, 14424, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Supramaniam P, Ces O, Salehi-Reyhani A. Microfluidics for Artificial Life: Techniques for Bottom-Up Synthetic Biology. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:E299. [PMID: 31052344 PMCID: PMC6562628 DOI: 10.3390/mi10050299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology is a rapidly growing multidisciplinary branch of science that exploits the advancement of molecular and cellular biology. Conventional modification of pre-existing cells is referred to as the top-down approach. Bottom-up synthetic biology is an emerging complementary branch that seeks to construct artificial cells from natural or synthetic components. One of the aims in bottom-up synthetic biology is to construct or mimic the complex pathways present in living cells. The recent, and rapidly growing, application of microfluidics in the field is driven by the central tenet of the bottom-up approach-the pursuit of controllably generating artificial cells with precisely defined parameters, in terms of molecular and geometrical composition. In this review we survey conventional methods of artificial cell synthesis and their limitations. We proceed to show how microfluidic approaches have been pivotal in overcoming these limitations and ushering in a new generation of complexity that may be imbued in artificial cells and the milieu of applications that result.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pashiini Supramaniam
- Department of Chemistry, White City Campus, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - Oscar Ces
- Department of Chemistry, White City Campus, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
- FabriCELL, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - Ali Salehi-Reyhani
- FabriCELL, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
- Department of Chemistry, King's College London, Britannia House, London SE1 1DB, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Stano P. Gene Expression Inside Liposomes: From Early Studies to Current Protocols. Chemistry 2019; 25:7798-7814. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201806445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Stano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA)University of Salento, Ecotekne 73100 Lecce Italy
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Hürtgen D, Härtel T, Murray SM, Sourjik V, Schwille P. Functional Modules of Minimal Cell Division for Synthetic Biology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 3:e1800315. [PMID: 32648714 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Cellular reproduction is one of the fundamental hallmarks of life. Therefore, the development of a minimal division machinery capable of proper genome condensation and organization, mid-cell positioning and segregation in space and time, and the final septation process constitute a fundamental challenge for synthetic biology. It is therefore important to be able to engineer such modules for the production of artificial minimal cells. A bottom-up assembly of molecular machines from bulk biochemicals complemented by in vivo experiments as well as computational modelling helps to approach such key cellular processes. Here, minimal functional modules involved in genome segregation and the division machinery and their spatial organization and positioning are reviewed, setting into perspective the design of a minimal cell. Furthermore, the milestones of recent in vitro reconstitution experiments in the context of cell division are discussed and their role in shedding light on fundamental cellular mechanisms that constitute spatiotemporal order is described. Lastly, current challenges in the field of bottom-up synthetic biology as well as possible future developments toward the development of minimal biomimetic systems are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Hürtgen
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (Synmikro), Karl-von-Frisch Straße 16, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Härtel
- Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Seán M Murray
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (Synmikro), Karl-von-Frisch Straße 16, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Victor Sourjik
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (Synmikro), Karl-von-Frisch Straße 16, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Petra Schwille
- Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Hürtgen D, Vogel SK, Schwille P. Cytoskeletal and Actin-Based Polymerization Motors and Their Role in Minimal Cell Design. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 3:e1800311. [PMID: 32648711 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Life implies motion. In cells, protein-based active molecular machines drive cell locomotion and intracellular transport, control cell shape, segregate genetic material, and split a cell in two parts. Key players among molecular machines driving these various cell functions are the cytoskeleton and motor proteins that convert chemical bound energy into mechanical work. Findings over the last decades in the field of in vitro reconstitutions of cytoskeletal and motor proteins have elucidated mechanistic details of these active protein systems. For example, a complex spatial and temporal interplay between the cytoskeleton and motor proteins is responsible for the translation of chemically bound energy into (directed) movement and force generation, which eventually governs the emergence of complex cellular functions. Understanding these mechanisms and the design principles of the cytoskeleton and motor proteins builds the basis for mimicking fundamental life processes. Here, a brief overview of actin, prokaryotic actin analogs, and motor proteins and their potential role in the design of a minimal cell from the bottom-up is provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Hürtgen
- Department of Systems and Synthetic Microbiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology & LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (Synmikro), D-35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sven Kenjiro Vogel
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry , Am Klopferspitz 18, D-82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry , Am Klopferspitz 18, D-82152, Martinsried, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Friddin MS, Elani Y, Trantidou T, Ces O. New Directions for Artificial Cells Using Prototyped Biosystems. Anal Chem 2019; 91:4921-4928. [PMID: 30841694 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b04885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidics has has enabled the generation of a range of single compartment and multicompartment vesicles and bilayer-delineated droplets that can be assembled in 2D and 3D. These model systems are becoming increasingly used as artificial cell chassis and as biomimetic constructs for assembling tissue models, engineering therapeutic delivery systems, and screening drugs. One bottleneck in developing this technology is the time, expertise, and equipment required for device fabrication. This has led to interest across the microfluidics community in using rapid prototyping to engineer microfluidic devices from computer-aided-design (CAD) drawings. We highlight how this rapid-prototyping revolution is transforming the fabrication of microfluidic devices for artificial cell construction in bottom-up synthetic biology. We provide an outline of the current landscape and present how advances in the field may give rise to the next generation of multifunctional biodevices, particularly with Industry 4.0 on the horizon. Successfully developing this technology and making it open-source could pave the way for a new generation of citizen-led science, fueling the possibility that the next multibillion-dollar start-up could emerge from an attic or a basement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Friddin
- Department of Chemistry , Imperial College London , Wood Lane , London , W12 0BZ , United Kingdom
| | - Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemistry , Imperial College London , Wood Lane , London , W12 0BZ , United Kingdom.,Institute of Chemical Biology , Imperial College London , Wood Lane , London , W12 0BZ , United Kingdom.,fabriCELL, Molecular Sciences Research Hub , Imperial College London , Wood Lane , London , W12 0BZ , United Kingdom
| | - Tatiana Trantidou
- Department of Chemistry , Imperial College London , Wood Lane , London , W12 0BZ , United Kingdom
| | - Oscar Ces
- Department of Chemistry , Imperial College London , Wood Lane , London , W12 0BZ , United Kingdom.,Institute of Chemical Biology , Imperial College London , Wood Lane , London , W12 0BZ , United Kingdom.,fabriCELL, Molecular Sciences Research Hub , Imperial College London , Wood Lane , London , W12 0BZ , United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Rideau E, Wurm FR, Landfester K. Self‐Assembly of Giant Unilamellar Vesicles by Film Hydration Methodologies. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 3:e1800324. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emeline Rideau
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research Ackermannweg 10 55128 Mainz Germany
| | - Frederik R. Wurm
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research Ackermannweg 10 55128 Mainz Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Ganzinger KA, Schwille P. More from less - bottom-up reconstitution of cell biology. J Cell Sci 2019; 132:132/4/jcs227488. [PMID: 30718262 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.227488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The ultimate goal of bottom-up synthetic biology is recreating life in its simplest form. However, in its quest to find the minimal functional units of life, this field contributes more than its main aim by also offering a range of tools for asking, and experimentally approaching, biological questions. This Review focusses on how bottom-up reconstitution has furthered our understanding of cell biology. Studying cell biological processes in vitro has a long tradition, but only recent technological advances have enabled researchers to reconstitute increasingly complex biomolecular systems by controlling their multi-component composition and their spatiotemporal arrangements. We illustrate this progress using the example of cytoskeletal processes. Our understanding of these has been greatly enhanced by reconstitution experiments, from the first in vitro experiments 70 years ago to recent work on minimal cytoskeleton systems (including this Special Issue of Journal of Cell Science). Importantly, reconstitution approaches are not limited to the cytoskeleton field. Thus, we also discuss progress in other areas, such as the shaping of biomembranes and cellular signalling, and prompt the reader to add their subfield of cell biology to this list in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina A Ganzinger
- Physics of Cellular Interactions Group, AMOLF, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Trantidou T, Dekker L, Polizzi K, Ces O, Elani Y. Functionalizing cell-mimetic giant vesicles with encapsulated bacterial biosensors. Interface Focus 2018; 8:20180024. [PMID: 30443325 PMCID: PMC6227772 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2018.0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The design of vesicle microsystems as artificial cells (bottom-up synthetic biology) has traditionally relied on the incorporation of molecular components to impart functionality. These cell mimics have reduced capabilities compared with their engineered biological counterparts (top-down synthetic biology), as they lack the powerful metabolic and regulatory pathways associated with living systems. There is increasing scope for using whole intact cellular components as functional modules within artificial cells, as a route to increase the capabilities of artificial cells. In this feasibility study, we design and embed genetically engineered microbes (Escherichia coli) in a vesicle-based cell mimic and use them as biosensing modules for real-time monitoring of lactate in the external environment. Using this conceptual framework, the functionality of other microbial devices can be conferred into vesicle microsystems in the future, bridging the gap between bottom-up and top-down synthetic biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Trantidou
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Linda Dekker
- Department of Life Sciences and Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Karen Polizzi
- Department of Life Sciences and Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Oscar Ces
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- fabriCELL, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- fabriCELL, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Yewdall NA, Mason AF, van Hest JCM. The hallmarks of living systems: towards creating artificial cells. Interface Focus 2018; 8:20180023. [PMID: 30443324 PMCID: PMC6227776 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2018.0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the astonishing diversity and complexity of living systems, they all share five common hallmarks: compartmentalization, growth and division, information processing, energy transduction and adaptability. In this review, we give not only examples of how cells satisfy these requirements for life and the ways in which it is possible to emulate these characteristics in engineered platforms, but also the gaps that remain to be bridged. The bottom-up synthesis of life-like systems continues to be driven forward by the advent of new technologies, by the discovery of biological phenomena through their transplantation to experimentally simpler constructs and by providing insights into one of the oldest questions posed by mankind, the origin of life on Earth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jan C. M. van Hest
- Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513 (STO 3.31), Eindhoven, MB, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Haller B, Göpfrich K, Schröter M, Janiesch JW, Platzman I, Spatz JP. Charge-controlled microfluidic formation of lipid-based single- and multicompartment systems. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:2665-2674. [PMID: 30070293 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00582f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In this manuscript, we introduce a simple, off-the-shelf approach for the on-demand creation of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) or multicompartment synthetic cell model systems in a high-throughput manner. To achieve this, we use microfluidics to encapsulate small unilamellar vesicles in block-copolymer surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil droplets. By tuning the charge of the inner droplet interface, adsorption of lipids can be either inhibited, leading to multicompartment systems, or induced, leading to the formation of droplet-stabilized GUVs. To control the charge density, we formed droplets using different molar ratios of an uncharged PEG-based fluorosurfactant and a negatively-charged PFPE carboxylic acid fluorosurfactant (Krytox). We systematically studied the transition from a multicompartment system to 3D-supported lipid bilayers as a function of lipid charge and Krytox concentration using confocal fluorescence microscopy, cryo-scanning electron microscopy and interfacial tension measurements. Moreover, we demonstrate a simple method to release GUVs from the surfactant shell and the oil phase into a physiological buffer - providing a remarkably high-yield approach for GUV formation. This widely applicable microfluidics-based technology will increase the scope of GUVs as adaptable cell-like compartments in bottom-up synthetic biology applications and beyond.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Haller
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Altamura E, Carrara P, D'Angelo F, Mavelli F, Stano P. Extrinsic stochastic factors (solute partition) in gene expression inside lipid vesicles and lipid-stabilized water-in-oil droplets: a review. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2018; 3:ysy011. [PMID: 32995519 PMCID: PMC7445889 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysy011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The encapsulation of transcription-translation (TX-TL) machinery inside lipid vesicles and water-in-oil droplets leads to the construction of cytomimetic systems (often called 'synthetic cells') for synthetic biology and origins-of-life research. A number of recent reports have shown that protein synthesis inside these microcompartments is highly diverse in terms of rate and amount of synthesized protein. Here, we discuss the role of extrinsic stochastic effects (i.e. solute partition phenomena) as relevant factors contributing to this pattern. We evidence and discuss cases where between-compartment diversity seems to exceed the expected theoretical values. The need of accurate determination of solute content inside individual vesicles or droplets is emphasized, aiming at validating or rejecting the predictions calculated from the standard fluctuations theory. At the same time, we promote the integration of experiments and stochastic modeling to reveal the details of solute encapsulation and intra-compartment reactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emiliano Altamura
- Chemistry Department, University of Bari, Via E. Orabona 4, I-70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Paolo Carrara
- Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University, Viale G. Marconi 446, I-00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca D'Angelo
- Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University, Viale G. Marconi 446, I-00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Mavelli
- Chemistry Department, University of Bari, Via E. Orabona 4, I-70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Pasquale Stano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Ecotekne, I-73100, Lecce, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Development of Microplatforms to Mimic the In Vivo Architecture of CNS and PNS Physiology and Their Diseases. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9060285. [PMID: 29882823 PMCID: PMC6027402 DOI: 10.3390/genes9060285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms that govern nervous tissues function remains a challenge. In vitro two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems provide a simplistic platform to evaluate systematic investigations but often result in unreliable responses that cannot be translated to pathophysiological settings. Recently, microplatforms have emerged to provide a better approximation of the in vivo scenario with better control over the microenvironment, stimuli and structure. Advances in biomaterials enable the construction of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds, which combined with microfabrication, allow enhanced biomimicry through precise control of the architecture, cell positioning, fluid flows and electrochemical stimuli. This manuscript reviews, compares and contrasts advances in nervous tissues-on-a-chip models and their applications in neural physiology and disease. Microplatforms used for neuro-glia interactions, neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), blood-brain barrier (BBB) and studies on brain cancer, metastasis and neurodegenerative diseases are addressed. Finally, we highlight challenges that can be addressed with interdisciplinary efforts to achieve a higher degree of biomimicry. Nervous tissue microplatforms provide a powerful tool that is destined to provide a better understanding of neural health and disease.
Collapse
|
36
|
Bolognesi G, Friddin MS, Salehi-Reyhani A, Barlow NE, Brooks NJ, Ces O, Elani Y. Sculpting and fusing biomimetic vesicle networks using optical tweezers. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1882. [PMID: 29760422 PMCID: PMC5951844 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04282-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Constructing higher-order vesicle assemblies has discipline-spanning potential from responsive soft-matter materials to artificial cell networks in synthetic biology. This potential is ultimately derived from the ability to compartmentalise and order chemical species in space. To unlock such applications, spatial organisation of vesicles in relation to one another must be controlled, and techniques to deliver cargo to compartments developed. Herein, we use optical tweezers to assemble, reconfigure and dismantle networks of cell-sized vesicles that, in different experimental scenarios, we engineer to exhibit several interesting properties. Vesicles are connected through double-bilayer junctions formed via electrostatically controlled adhesion. Chemically distinct vesicles are linked across length scales, from several nanometres to hundreds of micrometres, by axon-like tethers. In the former regime, patterning membranes with proteins and nanoparticles facilitates material exchange between compartments and enables laser-triggered vesicle merging. This allows us to mix and dilute content, and to initiate protein expression by delivering biomolecular reaction components. Assembly of higher-order artificial vesicles can unlock new applications. Here, the authors use optical tweezers to construct user-defined 2D and 3D architectures of chemically distinct vesicles and demonstrate inter-vesicle communication and light-enabled compartment merging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guido Bolognesi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK
| | - Mark S Friddin
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Ali Salehi-Reyhani
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.,Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.,FABRICELL, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Nathan E Barlow
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Nicholas J Brooks
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.,Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Oscar Ces
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. .,Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. .,FABRICELL, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. .,Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. .,FABRICELL, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Karamdad K, Hindley JW, Bolognesi G, Friddin MS, Law RV, Brooks NJ, Ces O, Elani Y. Engineering thermoresponsive phase separated vesicles formed via emulsion phase transfer as a content-release platform. Chem Sci 2018; 9:4851-4858. [PMID: 29910937 PMCID: PMC5982195 DOI: 10.1039/c7sc04309k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Elucidation of cholesterol insertion efficiency into phase-transfer vesicles enables the rational design of phase-separated membranes as thermally-responsive platforms for artificial cell construction.
Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are a well-established tool for the study of membrane biophysics and are increasingly used as artificial cell models and functional units in biotechnology. This trend is driven by the development of emulsion-based generation methods such as Emulsion Phase Transfer (EPT), which facilitates the encapsulation of almost any water-soluble compounds (including biomolecules) regardless of size or charge, is compatible with droplet microfluidics, and allows GUVs with asymmetric bilayers to be assembled. However, the ability to control the composition of membranes formed via EPT remains an open question; this is key as composition gives rise to an array of biophysical phenomena which can be used to add functionality to membranes. Here, we evaluate the use of GUVs constructed via this method as a platform for phase behaviour studies and take advantage of composition-dependent features to engineer thermally-responsive GUVs. For the first time, we generate ternary GUVs (DOPC/DPPC/cholesterol) using EPT, and by compensating for the lower cholesterol incorporation efficiencies, show that these possess the full range of phase behaviour displayed by electroformed GUVs. As a demonstration of the fine control afforded by this approach, we demonstrate release of dye and peptide cargo when ternary GUVs are heated through the immiscibility transition temperature, and show that release temperature can be tuned by changing vesicle composition. We show that GUVs can be individually addressed and release triggered using a laser beam. Our findings validate EPT as a suitable method for generating phase separated vesicles and provide a valuable proof-of-concept for engineering content release functionality into individually addressable vesicles, which could have a host of applications in the development of smart synthetic biosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaiser Karamdad
- Department of Chemistry , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK . ; .,Institute of Chemical Biology , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK
| | - James W Hindley
- Department of Chemistry , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK . ; .,Institute of Chemical Biology , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK
| | - Guido Bolognesi
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Loughborough University , Loughborough , LE11 3TU , UK
| | - Mark S Friddin
- Department of Chemistry , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK . ;
| | - Robert V Law
- Department of Chemistry , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK . ; .,Institute of Chemical Biology , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK
| | - Nicholas J Brooks
- Department of Chemistry , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK . ; .,Institute of Chemical Biology , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK
| | - Oscar Ces
- Department of Chemistry , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK . ; .,Institute of Chemical Biology , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK.,FABRICELL , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK
| | - Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemistry , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK . ; .,Institute of Chemical Biology , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK.,FABRICELL , Imperial College London , Exhibition Road , London , SW7 2AZ , UK
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Booth MJ, Restrepo Schild V, Downs FG, Bayley H. Functional aqueous droplet networks. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2018; 13:1658-1691. [PMID: 28766622 DOI: 10.1039/c7mb00192d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Droplet interface bilayers (DIBs), comprising individual lipid bilayers between pairs of aqueous droplets in an oil, are proving to be a useful tool for studying membrane proteins. Recently, attention has turned to the elaboration of networks of aqueous droplets, connected through functionalized interface bilayers, with collective properties unachievable in droplet pairs. Small 2D collections of droplets have been formed into soft biodevices, which can act as electronic components, light-sensors and batteries. A substantial breakthrough has been the development of a droplet printer, which can create patterned 3D droplet networks of hundreds to thousands of connected droplets. The 3D networks can change shape, or carry electrical signals through defined pathways, or express proteins in response to patterned illumination. We envisage using functional 3D droplet networks as autonomous synthetic tissues or coupling them with cells to repair or enhance the properties of living tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Booth
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Göpfrich K, Platzman I, Spatz JP. Mastering Complexity: Towards Bottom-up Construction of Multifunctional Eukaryotic Synthetic Cells. Trends Biotechnol 2018; 36:938-951. [PMID: 29685820 PMCID: PMC6100601 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
With the ultimate aim to construct a living cell, bottom-up synthetic biology strives to reconstitute cellular phenomena in vitro - disentangled from the complex environment of a cell. Recent work towards this ambitious goal has provided new insights into the mechanisms governing life. With the fast-growing library of functional modules for synthetic cells, their classification and integration become increasingly important. We discuss strategies to reverse-engineer and recombine functional parts for synthetic eukaryotes, mimicking the characteristics of nature's own prototype. Particularly, we focus on large outer compartments, complex endomembrane systems with organelles, and versatile cytoskeletons as hallmarks of eukaryotic life. Moreover, we identify microfluidics and DNA nanotechnology as two technologies that can integrate these functional modules into sophisticated multifunctional synthetic cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Göpfrich
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Department of Cellular Biophysics, Jahnstraße 29, D 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 253, D 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Ilia Platzman
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Department of Cellular Biophysics, Jahnstraße 29, D 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 253, D 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Joachim P Spatz
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Department of Cellular Biophysics, Jahnstraße 29, D 69120, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 253, D 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Thomas JM, Friddin MS, Ces O, Elani Y. Programming membrane permeability using integrated membrane pores and blockers as molecular regulators. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 53:12282-12285. [PMID: 29091084 DOI: 10.1039/c7cc05423h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
We report a bottom-up synthetic biology approach to engineering vesicles with programmable permeabilities. Exploiting the concentration-dependent relationship between constitutively active pores (alpha-hemolysin) and blockers allows blockers to behave as molecular regulators for tuning permeability, enabling us to systematically modulate cargo release kinetics without changing the lipid fabric of the system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Thomas
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
|
42
|
Elani Y, Trantidou T, Wylie D, Dekker L, Polizzi K, Law RV, Ces O. Constructing vesicle-based artificial cells with embedded living cells as organelle-like modules. Sci Rep 2018. [PMID: 29540757 PMCID: PMC5852042 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22263-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing interest in constructing artificial cells by functionalising lipid vesicles with biological and synthetic machinery. Due to their reduced complexity and lack of evolved biochemical pathways, the capabilities of artificial cells are limited in comparison to their biological counterparts. We show that encapsulating living cells in vesicles provides a means for artificial cells to leverage cellular biochemistry, with the encapsulated cells serving organelle-like functions as living modules inside a larger synthetic cell assembly. Using microfluidic technologies to construct such hybrid cellular bionic systems, we demonstrate that the vesicle host and the encapsulated cell operate in concert. The external architecture of the vesicle shields the cell from toxic surroundings, while the cell acts as a bioreactor module that processes encapsulated feedstock which is further processed by a synthetic enzymatic metabolism co-encapsulated in the vesicle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. .,Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - Tatiana Trantidou
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Douglas Wylie
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.,Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Linda Dekker
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Karen Polizzi
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Robert V Law
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Oscar Ces
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. .,Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Damiati S, Mhanna R, Kodzius R, Ehmoser EK. Cell-Free Approaches in Synthetic Biology Utilizing Microfluidics. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E144. [PMID: 29509709 PMCID: PMC5867865 DOI: 10.3390/genes9030144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology is a rapidly growing multidisciplinary branch of science which aims to mimic complex biological systems by creating similar forms. Constructing an artificial system requires optimization at the gene and protein levels to allow the formation of entire biological pathways. Advances in cell-free synthetic biology have helped in discovering new genes, proteins, and pathways bypassing the complexity of the complex pathway interactions in living cells. Furthermore, this method is cost- and time-effective with access to the cellular protein factory without the membrane boundaries. The freedom of design, full automation, and mimicking of in vivo systems reveal advantages of synthetic biology that can improve the molecular understanding of processes, relevant for life science applications. In parallel, in vitro approaches have enhanced our understanding of the living system. This review highlights the recent evolution of cell-free gene design, proteins, and cells integrated with microfluidic platforms as a promising technology, which has allowed for the transformation of the concept of bioprocesses. Although several challenges remain, the manipulation of biological synthetic machinery in microfluidic devices as suitable 'homes' for in vitro protein synthesis has been proposed as a pioneering approach for the development of new platforms, relevant in biomedical and diagnostic contexts towards even the sensing and monitoring of environmental issues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samar Damiati
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Rami Mhanna
- Biomedical Engineering Program, The American University of Beirut (AUB), Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon.
| | - Rimantas Kodzius
- Mathematics and Natural Sciences Department, The American University of Iraq, Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah 46001, Iraq.
- Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), 80539 Munich, Germany.
- Faculty of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany.
| | - Eva-Kathrin Ehmoser
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute for Synthetic Bioarchitecture, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Rideau E, Dimova R, Schwille P, Wurm FR, Landfester K. Liposomes and polymersomes: a comparative review towards cell mimicking. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 47:8572-8610. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cs00162f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 521] [Impact Index Per Article: 86.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Minimal cells: we compare and contrast liposomes and polymersomes for a bettera priorichoice and design of vesicles and try to understand the advantages and shortcomings associated with using one or the other in many different aspects (properties, synthesis, self-assembly, applications).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emeline Rideau
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research
- 55128 Mainz
- Germany
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces
- Wissenschaftspark Potsdam-Golm
- 14476 Potsdam
- Germany
| | - Petra Schwille
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry
- 82152 Martinsried
- Germany
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Gach PC, Iwai K, Kim PW, Hillson NJ, Singh AK. Droplet microfluidics for synthetic biology. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:3388-3400. [PMID: 28820204 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00576h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary field that aims to engineer biological systems for useful purposes. Organism engineering often requires the optimization of individual genes and/or entire biological pathways (consisting of multiple genes). Advances in DNA sequencing and synthesis have recently begun to enable the possibility of evaluating thousands of gene variants and hundreds of thousands of gene combinations. However, such large-scale optimization experiments remain cost-prohibitive to researchers following traditional molecular biology practices, which are frequently labor-intensive and suffer from poor reproducibility. Liquid handling robotics may reduce labor and improve reproducibility, but are themselves expensive and thus inaccessible to most researchers. Microfluidic platforms offer a lower entry price point alternative to robotics, and maintain high throughput and reproducibility while further reducing operating costs through diminished reagent volume requirements. Droplet microfluidics have shown exceptional promise for synthetic biology experiments, including DNA assembly, transformation/transfection, culturing, cell sorting, phenotypic assays, artificial cells and genetic circuits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip C Gach
- Technology Division, DOE Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Trantidou T, Friddin M, Elani Y, Brooks NJ, Law RV, Seddon JM, Ces O. Engineering Compartmentalized Biomimetic Micro- and Nanocontainers. ACS NANO 2017; 11:6549-6565. [PMID: 28658575 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b03245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Compartmentalization of biological content and function is a key architectural feature in biology, where membrane bound micro- and nanocompartments are used for performing a host of highly specialized and tightly regulated biological functions. The benefit of compartmentalization as a design principle is behind its ubiquity in cells and has led to it being a central engineering theme in construction of artificial cell-like systems. In this review, we discuss the attractions of designing compartmentalized membrane-bound constructs and review a range of biomimetic membrane architectures that span length scales, focusing on lipid-based structures but also addressing polymer-based and hybrid approaches. These include nested vesicles, multicompartment vesicles, large-scale vesicle networks, as well as droplet interface bilayers, and double-emulsion multiphase systems (multisomes). We outline key examples of how such structures have been functionalized with biological and synthetic machinery, for example, to manufacture and deliver drugs and metabolic compounds, to replicate intracellular signaling cascades, and to demonstrate collective behaviors as minimal tissue constructs. Particular emphasis is placed on the applications of these architectures and the state-of-the-art microfluidic engineering required to fabricate, functionalize, and precisely assemble them. Finally, we outline the future directions of these technologies and highlight how they could be applied to engineer the next generation of cell models, therapeutic agents, and microreactors, together with the diverse applications in the emerging field of bottom-up synthetic biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Trantidou
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London , Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Friddin
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London , Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London , Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J Brooks
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London , Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Robert V Law
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London , Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - John M Seddon
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London , Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Oscar Ces
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London , Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Salehi-Reyhani A, Ces O, Elani Y. Artificial cell mimics as simplified models for the study of cell biology. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2017; 242:1309-1317. [PMID: 28580796 PMCID: PMC5528198 DOI: 10.1177/1535370217711441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Living cells are hugely complex chemical systems composed of a milieu of distinct chemical species (including DNA, proteins, lipids, and metabolites) interconnected with one another through a vast web of interactions: this complexity renders the study of cell biology in a quantitative and systematic manner a difficult task. There has been an increasing drive towards the utilization of artificial cells as cell mimics to alleviate this, a development that has been aided by recent advances in artificial cell construction. Cell mimics are simplified cell-like structures, composed from the bottom-up with precisely defined and tunable compositions. They allow specific facets of cell biology to be studied in isolation, in a simplified environment where control of variables can be achieved without interference from a living and responsive cell. This mini-review outlines the core principles of this approach and surveys recent key investigations that use cell mimics to address a wide range of biological questions. It will also place the field in the context of emerging trends, discuss the associated limitations, and outline future directions of the field. Impact statement Recent years have seen an increasing drive to construct cell mimics and use them as simplified experimental models to replicate and understand biological phenomena in a well-defined and controlled system. By summarizing the advances in this burgeoning field, and using case studies as a basis for discussion on the limitations and future directions of this approach, it is hoped that this minireview will spur others in the experimental biology community to use artificial cells as simplified models with which to probe biological systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Oscar Ces
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Caschera F. Bacterial cell-free expression technology to in vitro systems engineering and optimization. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2017; 2:97-104. [PMID: 29062966 PMCID: PMC5637228 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free expression system is a technology for the synthesis of proteins in vitro. The system is a platform for several bioengineering projects, e.g. cell-free metabolic engineering, evolutionary design of experiments, and synthetic minimal cell construction. Bacterial cell-free protein synthesis system (CFPS) is a robust tool for synthetic biology. The bacteria lysate, the DNA, and the energy module, which are the three optimized sub-systems for in vitro protein synthesis, compose the integrated system. Currently, an optimized E. coli cell-free expression system can produce up to ∼2.3 mg/mL of a fluorescent reporter protein. Herein, I will describe the features of ATP-regeneration systems for in vitro protein synthesis, and I will present a machine-learning experiment for optimizing the protein yield of E. coli cell-free protein synthesis systems. Moreover, I will introduce experiments on the synthesis of a minimal cell using liposomes as dynamic containers, and E. coli cell-free expression system as biochemical platform for metabolism and gene expression. CFPS can be further integrated with other technologies for novel applications in environmental, medical and material science.
Collapse
|
49
|
Trantidou T, Elani Y, Parsons E, Ces O. Hydrophilic surface modification of PDMS for droplet microfluidics using a simple, quick, and robust method via PVA deposition. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2017; 3:16091. [PMID: 31057854 PMCID: PMC6444978 DOI: 10.1038/micronano.2016.91] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Revised: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a dominant material in the fabrication of microfluidic devices to generate water-in-oil droplets, particularly lipid-stabilized droplets, because of its highly hydrophobic nature. However, its key property of hydrophobicity has hindered its use in the microfluidic generation of oil-in-water droplets, which requires channels to have hydrophilic surface properties. In this article, we developed, optimized, and characterized a method to produce PDMS with a hydrophilic surface via the deposition of polyvinyl alcohol following plasma treatment and demonstrated its suitability for droplet generation. The proposed method is simple, quick, effective, and low cost and is versatile with respect to surfactants, with droplets being successfully generated using both anionic surfactants and more biologically relevant phospholipids. This method also allows the device to be selectively patterned with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, leading to the generation of double emulsions and inverted double emulsions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Trantidou
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Edward Parsons
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Oscar Ces
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Thiele J. Polymer Material Design by Microfluidics Inspired by Cell Biology and Cell-Free Biotechnology. MACROMOL CHEM PHYS 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/macp.201600429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julian Thiele
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e. V; Leibniz Research Cluster (LRC); Hohe Straße 6 01069 Dresden Germany
| |
Collapse
|