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Dimitriou P, Li J, Jamieson WD, Schneider JJ, Castell OK, Barrow DA. Manipulation of encapsulated artificial phospholipid membranes using sub-micellar lysolipid concentrations. Commun Chem 2024; 7:120. [PMID: 38824266 PMCID: PMC11144220 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01209-z] [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: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Droplet Interface Bilayers (DIBs) constitute a commonly used model of artificial membranes for synthetic biology research applications. However, their practical use is often limited by their requirement to be surrounded by oil. Here we demonstrate in-situ bilayer manipulation of submillimeter, hydrogel-encapsulated droplet interface bilayers (eDIBs). Monolithic, Cyclic Olefin Copolymer/Nylon 3D-printed microfluidic devices facilitated the eDIB formation through high-order emulsification. By exposing the eDIB capsules to varying lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) concentrations, we investigated the interaction of lysolipids with three-dimensional DIB networks. Micellar LPC concentrations triggered the bursting of encapsulated droplet networks, while at lower concentrations the droplet network endured structural changes, precisely affecting the membrane dimensions. This chemically-mediated manipulation of enclosed, 3D-orchestrated membrane mimics, facilitates the exploration of readily accessible compartmentalized artificial cellular machinery. Collectively, the droplet-based construct can pose as a chemically responsive soft material for studying membrane mechanics, and drug delivery, by controlling the cargo release from artificial cell chassis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pantelitsa Dimitriou
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Queen's Buildings, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK.
| | - Jin Li
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Queen's Buildings, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK.
| | - William David Jamieson
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, Kind Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, UK
| | - Johannes Josef Schneider
- Institute of Applied Mathematics and Physics, School of Engineering, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Technikumstr. 9, 8401, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Kieran Castell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, Kind Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, UK
| | - David Anthony Barrow
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Queen's Buildings, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK
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2
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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.
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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.
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3
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Govey-Scotland J, Johnstone L, Myant C, Friddin MS. Towards skin-on-a-chip for screening the dermal absorption of cosmetics. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:5068-5080. [PMID: 37938128 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00691c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Over the past few decades, there have been increasing global efforts to limit or ban the use of animals for testing cosmetic products. This ambition has been at the heart of international endeavours to develop new in vitro and animal-free approaches for assessing the safety of cosmetics. While several of these new approach methodologies (NAMs) have been approved for assessing different toxicological endpoints in the UK and across the EU, there remains an absence of animal-free methods for screening for dermal absorption; a measure that assesses the degree to which chemical substances can become systemically available through contact with human skin. Here, we identify some of the major technical barriers that have impacted regulatory recognition of an in vitro skin model for this purpose and propose how these could be overcome on-chip using artificial cells engineered from the bottom-up. As part of our future perspective, we suggest how this could be realised using a digital biomanufacturing pipeline that connects the design, microfluidic generation and 3D printing of artificial cells into user-crafted synthetic tissues. We highlight milestone achievements towards this goal, identify future challenges, and suggest how the ability to engineer animal-free skin models could have significant long-term consequences for dermal absorption screening, as well as for other applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Govey-Scotland
- Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ, London, UK.
- Institute for Molecular Sciences and Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
| | - Liam Johnstone
- Office for Product Safety and Standards, 1 Victoria Street, SW1H 0ET, London, UK
| | - Connor Myant
- Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ, London, UK.
| | - Mark S Friddin
- Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ, London, UK.
- Institute for Molecular Sciences and Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
- fabriCELL, Imperial College London and Kings College London, London, UK
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4
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Li DY, Zhou ZH, Yu YL, Deng NN. Microfluidic construction of cytoskeleton-like hydrogel matrix for stabilizing artificial cells. Chem Eng Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2022.118186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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5
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Signal processing and generation of bioactive nitric oxide in a model prototissue. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5254. [PMID: 36068269 PMCID: PMC9448809 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32941-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The design and construction of synthetic prototissues from integrated assemblies of artificial protocells is an important challenge for synthetic biology and bioengineering. Here we spatially segregate chemically communicating populations of enzyme-decorated phospholipid-enveloped polymer/DNA coacervate protocells in hydrogel modules to construct a tubular prototissue-like vessel capable of modulating the output of bioactive nitric oxide (NO). By decorating the protocells with glucose oxidase, horseradish peroxidase or catalase and arranging different modules concentrically, a glucose/hydroxyurea dual input leads to logic-gate signal processing under reaction-diffusion conditions, which results in a distinct NO output in the internal lumen of the model prototissue. The NO output is exploited to inhibit platelet activation and blood clot formation in samples of plasma and whole blood located in the internal channel of the device, thereby demonstrating proof-of-concept use of the prototissue-like vessel for anticoagulation applications. Our results highlight opportunities for the development of spatially organized synthetic prototissue modules from assemblages of artificial protocells and provide a step towards the organization of biochemical processes in integrated micro-compartmentalized media, micro-reactor technology and soft functional materials. A challenge for synthetic biology is the design and construction of prototissue. Here, the authors spatially segregate layers of enzyme-decorated coacervate protocells as a model prototissue capable of chemical signal processing and modulating outputs of nitric oxide to inhibit blood clot formation.
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Wei Z, Wang S, Hirvonen J, Santos HA, Li W. Microfluidics Fabrication of Micrometer-Sized Hydrogels with Precisely Controlled Geometries for Biomedical Applications. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2200846. [PMID: 35678152 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202200846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Micrometer-sized hydrogels are cross-linked three-dimensional network matrices with high-water contents and dimensions ranging from several to hundreds of micrometers. Due to their excellent biocompatibility and capability to mimic physiological microenvironments in vivo, micrometer-sized hydrogels have attracted much attention in the biomedical engineering field. Their biological properties and applications are primarily influenced by their chemical compositions and geometries. However, inhomogeneous morphologies and uncontrollable geometries limit traditional micrometer-sized hydrogels obtained by bulk mixing. In contrast, microfluidic technology holds great potential for the fabrication of micrometer-sized hydrogels since their geometries, sizes, structures, compositions, and physicochemical properties can be precisely manipulated on demand based on the excellent control over fluids. Therefore, micrometer-sized hydrogels fabricated by microfluidic technology have been applied in the biomedical field, including drug encapsulation, cell encapsulation, and tissue engineering. This review introduces micrometer-sized hydrogels with various geometries synthesized by different microfluidic devices, highlighting their advantages in various biomedical applications over those from traditional approaches. Overall, emerging microfluidic technologies enrich the geometries and morphologies of hydrogels and accelerate translation for industrial production and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyang Wei
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland
| | - Shiqi Wang
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland
| | - Jouni Hirvonen
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland
| | - Hélder A Santos
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, W.J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science, University Medical Center Groningen/University of Groningen, Ant. Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9713 AV, The Netherlands
| | - Wei Li
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland
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Abstract
Recent years have seen substantial efforts aimed at constructing artificial cells from various molecular components with the aim of mimicking the processes, behaviours and architectures found in biological systems. Artificial cell development ultimately aims to produce model constructs that progress our understanding of biology, as well as forming the basis for functional bio-inspired devices that can be used in fields such as therapeutic delivery, biosensing, cell therapy and bioremediation. Typically, artificial cells rely on a bilayer membrane chassis and have fluid aqueous interiors to mimic biological cells. However, a desire to more accurately replicate the gel-like properties of intracellular and extracellular biological environments has driven increasing efforts to build cell mimics based on hydrogels. This has enabled researchers to exploit some of the unique functional properties of hydrogels that have seen them deployed in fields such as tissue engineering, biomaterials and drug delivery. In this Review, we explore how hydrogels can be leveraged in the context of artificial cell development. We also discuss how hydrogels can potentially be incorporated within the next generation of artificial cells to engineer improved biological mimics and functional microsystems.
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Li J, Jamieson WD, Dimitriou P, Xu W, Rohde P, Martinac B, Baker M, Drinkwater BW, Castell OK, Barrow DA. Building programmable multicompartment artificial cells incorporating remotely activated protein channels using microfluidics and acoustic levitation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4125. [PMID: 35840619 PMCID: PMC9287423 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31898-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular compartments are functional units that support the metabolism within living cells, through spatiotemporal regulation of chemical reactions and biological processes. Consequently, as a step forward in the bottom-up creation of artificial cells, building analogous intracellular architectures is essential for the expansion of cell-mimicking functionality. Herein, we report the development of a droplet laboratory platform to engineer complex emulsion-based, multicompartment artificial cells, using microfluidics and acoustic levitation. Such levitated models provide free-standing, dynamic, definable droplet networks for the compartmentalisation of chemical species. Equally, they can be remotely operated with pneumatic, heating, and magnetic elements for post-processing, including the incorporation of membrane proteins; alpha-hemolysin; and mechanosensitive channel of large-conductance. The assembly of droplet networks is three-dimensionally patterned with fluidic input configurations determining droplet contents and connectivity, whilst acoustic manipulation can be harnessed to reconfigure the droplet network in situ. The mechanosensitive channel can be repeatedly activated and deactivated in the levitated artificial cell by the application of acoustic and magnetic fields to modulate membrane tension on demand. This offers possibilities beyond one-time chemically mediated activation to provide repeated, non-contact, control of membrane protein function. Collectively, this expands our growing capability to program and operate increasingly sophisticated artificial cells as life-like materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Li
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK.
| | - William D Jamieson
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Ave, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, UK
| | | | - Wen Xu
- Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, Aberconway Building, Colum Dr, Cardiff, CF10 3EU, UK
| | - Paul Rohde
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Lowy Packer Building, 405 Liverpool St, Darlinhurst, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Boris Martinac
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Lowy Packer Building, 405 Liverpool St, Darlinhurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.,School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Matthew Baker
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Bruce W Drinkwater
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK.
| | - Oliver K Castell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Ave, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, UK.
| | - David A Barrow
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK.
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Baxani DK, Jamieson WD, Barrow DA, Castell OK. Encapsulated droplet interface bilayers as a platform for high-throughput membrane studies. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:5089-5096. [PMID: 35766018 PMCID: PMC9277618 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01111a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Whilst it is highly desirable to produce artificial lipid bilayer arrays allowing for systematic high-content screening of membrane conditions, it remains a challenge due to the combined requirements of scaled membrane production, simple measurement access, and independent control over individual bilayer experimental conditions. Here, droplet bilayers encapsulated within a hydrogel shell are output individually into multi-well plates for simple, arrayed quantitative measurements. The afforded experimental throughput is used to conduct a 2D concentration screen characterising the synergistic pore-forming peptides Magainin2 and PGLa. Maximal enhanced activity is revealed at equimolar peptide concentrations via a membrane dye leakage assay, a finding consistent with models proposed from NMR data. The versatility of the platform is demonstrated by performing in situ electrophysiology, revealing low conductance pore activity (∼15 to 20 pA with 4.5 pA sub-states). In conclusion, this array platform addresses the aforementioned challenges and provides new and flexible opportunities for high-throughput membrane studies. Furthermore, the ability to engineer droplet networks within each construct paves the way for "lab-in-a-capsule" approaches accommodating multiple assays per construct and allowing for communicative reaction pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- D K Baxani
- College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB Cardiff, UK.
| | - W D Jamieson
- College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB Cardiff, UK.
| | - D A Barrow
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, 14-17 The Parade, CF4 3AA Cardiff, UK
| | - O K Castell
- College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB Cardiff, UK.
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10
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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: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [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.
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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
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11
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Schmidt BVKJ. Multicompartment Hydrogels. Macromol Rapid Commun 2022; 43:e2100895. [PMID: 35092101 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogels belong to the most promising materials in polymer and materials science at the moment. As they feature soft and tissue-like character as well as high water-content, a broad range of applications are addressed with hydrogels, e.g. tissue engineering and wound dressings but also soft robotics, drug delivery, actuators and catalysis. Ways to tailor hydrogel properties are crosslinking mechanism, hydrogel shape and reinforcement, but new features can be introduced by variation of hydrogel composition as well, e.g. via monomer choice, functionalization or compartmentalization. Especially, multicompartment hydrogels drive progress towards complex and highly functional soft materials. In the present review the latest developments in multicompartment hydrogels are highlighted with a focus on three types of compartments, i.e. micellar/vesicular, droplets or multi-layers including various sub-categories. Furthermore, several morphologies of compartmentalized hydrogels and applications of multicompartment hydrogels will be discussed as well. Finally, an outlook towards future developments of the field will be given. The further development of multicompartment hydrogels is highly relevant for a broad range of applications and will have a significant impact on biomedicine and organic devices. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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12
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Novel glass capillary microfluidic devices for the flexible and simple production of multi-cored double emulsions. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 611:451-461. [PMID: 34968964 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.12.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Double emulsions with many monodispersed internal droplets are required for the fabrication of multicompartment microcapsules and tissue-like synthetic materials. These double emulsions can also help to optically resolve different coalescence mechanisms contributing to double emulsion destabilization. Up to date microfluidic double emulsions are limited to either core-shell droplets or droplets with eight or less inner droplets. By applying a two-step jet break-up within one setup, double emulsion droplets filled with up to several hundred monodispersed inner droplets can be achieved. EXPERIMENTS Modular interconnected CNC-milled Lego®-inspired blocks were used to create two separated droplet break-up points within coaxial glass capillaries. Inner droplets were formed by countercurrent flow focusing within a small inner capillary, while outer droplets were formed by co-flow in an outer capillary. The size of inner and outer droplets was independently controlled since the two droplet break-up processes were decoupled. FINDINGS With the developed setup W/O/W and O/W/O double emulsions were produced with different surfactants, oils, and viscosity modifiers to encapsulate 25-400 inner droplets in each outer drop with a volume percentage of inner phase between 7% and 50%. From these emulsions monodispersed multicompartment microcapsules were obtained. The report offers insights on the relationship between the coalescence of internal droplets and their release.
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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: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [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.
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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
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14
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Dimitriou P, Li J, Tornillo G, McCloy T, Barrow D. Droplet Microfluidics for Tumor Drug-Related Studies and Programmable Artificial Cells. GLOBAL CHALLENGES (HOBOKEN, NJ) 2021; 5:2000123. [PMID: 34267927 PMCID: PMC8272004 DOI: 10.1002/gch2.202000123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Anticancer drug development is a crucial step toward cancer treatment, that requires realistic predictions of malignant tissue development and sophisticated drug delivery. Tumors often acquire drug resistance and drug efficacy, hence cannot be accurately predicted in 2D tumor cell cultures. On the other hand, 3D cultures, including multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTSs), mimic the in vivo cellular arrangement and provide robust platforms for drug testing when grown in hydrogels with characteristics similar to the living body. Microparticles and liposomes are considered smart drug delivery vehicles, are able to target cancerous tissue, and can release entrapped drugs on demand. Microfluidics serve as a high-throughput tool for reproducible, flexible, and automated production of droplet-based microscale constructs, tailored to the desired final application. In this review, it is described how natural hydrogels in combination with droplet microfluidics can generate MCTSs, and the use of microfluidics to produce tumor targeting microparticles and liposomes. One of the highlights of the review documents the use of the bottom-up construction methodologies of synthetic biology for the formation of artificial cellular assemblies, which may additionally incorporate both target cancer cells and prospective drug candidates, as an integrated "droplet incubator" drug assay platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pantelitsa Dimitriou
- Applied Microfluidic LaboratorySchool of EngineeringCardiff UniversityCardiffCF24 3AAUK
| | - Jin Li
- Applied Microfluidic LaboratorySchool of EngineeringCardiff UniversityCardiffCF24 3AAUK
| | - Giusy Tornillo
- Hadyn Ellis BuildingCardiff UniversityMaindy RoadCardiffCF24 4HQUK
| | - Thomas McCloy
- Applied Microfluidic LaboratorySchool of EngineeringCardiff UniversityCardiffCF24 3AAUK
| | - David Barrow
- Applied Microfluidic LaboratorySchool of EngineeringCardiff UniversityCardiffCF24 3AAUK
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15
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Gao N, Li M, Tian L, Patil AJ, Pavan Kumar BVVS, Mann S. Chemical-mediated translocation in protocell-based microactuators. Nat Chem 2021; 13:868-879. [PMID: 34168327 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-021-00728-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Artificial cell-like communities participate in diverse modes of chemical interaction but exhibit minimal interfacing with their local environment. Here we develop an interactive microsystem based on the immobilization of a population of enzyme-active semipermeable proteinosomes within a helical hydrogel filament to implement signal-induced movement. We attach large single-polynucleotide/peptide microcapsules at one or both ends of the helical protocell filament to produce free-standing soft microactuators that sense and process chemical signals to perform mechanical work. Different modes of translocation are achieved by synergistic or antagonistic enzyme reactions located within the helical connector or inside the attached microcapsule loads. Mounting the microactuators on a ratchet-like surface produces a directional push-pull movement. Our methodology opens up a route to protocell-based chemical systems capable of utilizing mechanical work and provides a step towards the engineering of soft microscale objects with increased levels of operational autonomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Gao
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,Max Planck-Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Mei Li
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. .,School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
| | - Liangfei Tian
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,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, P. R. China
| | - Avinash J Patil
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - B V V S Pavan Kumar
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
| | - Stephen Mann
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. .,Max Planck-Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. .,School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
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16
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Crosslinking Strategies for the Microfluidic Production of Microgels. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26123752. [PMID: 34202959 PMCID: PMC8234156 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26123752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
This article provides a systematic review of the crosslinking strategies used to produce microgel particles in microfluidic chips. Various ionic crosslinking methods for the gelation of charged polymers are discussed, including external gelation via crosslinkers dissolved or dispersed in the oil phase; internal gelation methods using crosslinkers added to the dispersed phase in their non-active forms, such as chelating agents, photo-acid generators, sparingly soluble or slowly hydrolyzing compounds, and methods involving competitive ligand exchange; rapid mixing of polymer and crosslinking streams; and merging polymer and crosslinker droplets. Covalent crosslinking methods using enzymatic oxidation of modified biopolymers, photo-polymerization of crosslinkable monomers or polymers, and thiol-ene “click” reactions are also discussed, as well as methods based on the sol−gel transitions of stimuli responsive polymers triggered by pH or temperature change. In addition to homogeneous microgel particles, the production of structurally heterogeneous particles such as composite hydrogel particles entrapping droplet interface bilayers, core−shell particles, organoids, and Janus particles are also discussed. Microfluidics offers the ability to precisely tune the chemical composition, size, shape, surface morphology, and internal structure of microgels by bringing multiple fluid streams in contact in a highly controlled fashion using versatile channel geometries and flow configurations, and allowing for controlled crosslinking.
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17
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Stevendaal MHME, Hest JCM, Mason AF. Functional Interactions Between Bottom‐Up Synthetic Cells and Living Matter for Biomedical Applications. CHEMSYSTEMSCHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/syst.202100009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marleen H. M. E. Stevendaal
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems Eindhoven University of Technology P.O. Box 513 (STO 3.41) 5600MB Eindhoven (The Netherlands
| | - Jan C. M. Hest
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems Eindhoven University of Technology P.O. Box 513 (STO 3.41) 5600MB Eindhoven (The Netherlands
| | - Alexander F. Mason
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems Eindhoven University of Technology P.O. Box 513 (STO 3.41) 5600MB Eindhoven (The Netherlands
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18
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Czekalska MA, Jacobs AMJ, Toprakcioglu Z, Kong L, Baumann KN, Gang H, Zubaite G, Ye R, Mu B, Levin A, Huck WTS, Knowles TPJ. One-Step Generation of Multisomes from Lipid-Stabilized Double Emulsions. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:6739-6747. [PMID: 33522221 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c16019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Multisomes are multicompartmental structures formed by a lipid-stabilized network of aqueous droplets, which are contained by an outer oil phase. These biomimetic structures are emerging as a versatile platform for soft matter and synthetic biology applications. While several methods for producing multisomes have been described, including microfluidic techniques, approaches for generating biocompatible, monodisperse multisomes in a reproducible manner remain challenging to implement due to low throughput and complex device fabrication. Here, we report on a robust method for the dynamically controlled generation of multisomes with controllable sizes and high monodispersity from lipid-based double emulsions. The described microfluidic approach entails the use of three different phases forming a water/oil/water (W/O/W) double emulsion stabilized by lipid layers. We employ a gradient of glycerol concentration between the inner core and outer phase to drive the directed osmosis, allowing the swelling of lamellar lipid layers resulting in the formation of small aqueous daughter droplets at the interface of the inner aqueous core. By adding increasing concentrations of glycerol to the outer aqueous phase and subsequently varying the osmotic gradient, we show that key structural parameters, including the size of the internal droplets, can be specifically controlled. Finally, we show that this approach can be used to generate multisomes encapsulating small-molecule cargo, with potential applications in synthetic biology, drug delivery, and as carriers for active materials in the food and cosmetics industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena A Czekalska
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, Warsaw 01-224, Poland
| | - Anne M J Jacobs
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Zenon Toprakcioglu
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lingling Kong
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Applied Chemistry Institute, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Kevin N Baumann
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Hongze Gang
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Applied Chemistry Institute, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Greta Zubaite
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ruqiang Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Applied Chemistry Institute, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Bozhong Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and Applied Chemistry Institute, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Aviad Levin
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Wilhelm T S Huck
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, CB2 0HE Cambridge, United Kingdom
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19
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Bachler S, Haidas D, Ort M, Duncombe TA, Dittrich PS. Microfluidic platform enables tailored translocation and reaction cascades in nanoliter droplet networks. Commun Biol 2020; 3:769. [PMID: 33318607 PMCID: PMC7736871 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01489-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In the field of bottom-up synthetic biology, lipid membranes are the scaffold to create minimal cells and mimic reactions and processes at or across the membrane. In this context, we employ here a versatile microfluidic platform that enables precise positioning of nanoliter droplets with user-specified lipid compositions and in a defined pattern. Adjacent droplets make contact and form a droplet interface bilayer to simulate cellular membranes. Translocation of molecules across membranes are tailored by the addition of alpha-hemolysin to selected droplets. Moreover, we developed a protocol to analyze the translocation of non-fluorescent molecules between droplets with mass spectrometry. Our method is capable of automated formation of one- and two-dimensional droplet networks, which we demonstrated by connecting droplets containing different compound and enzyme solutions to perform translocation experiments and a multistep enzymatic cascade reaction across the droplet network. Our platform opens doors for creating complex artificial systems for bottom-up synthetic biology. Simon Bachler et al. present a new microfluidic platform to control the precise position and patterns of nanoliter droplets with various lipid materials. They show their platform enables monitoring of droplets and subsequent label-free mass spectrometry, which represents an important advance for the synthetic biology community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Bachler
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dominik Haidas
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marion Ort
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Todd A Duncombe
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Petra S Dittrich
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4058, Basel, Switzerland.
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20
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Bioluminescent detection of isothermal DNA amplification in microfluidic generated droplets and artificial cells. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21886. [PMID: 33318599 PMCID: PMC7736893 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78996-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic droplet generation affords precise, low volume, high throughput opportunities for molecular diagnostics. Isothermal DNA amplification with bioluminescent detection is a fast, low-cost, highly specific molecular diagnostic technique that is triggerable by temperature. Combining loop-mediated isothermal nucleic acid amplification (LAMP) and bioluminescent assay in real time (BART), with droplet microfluidics, should enable high-throughput, low copy, sequence-specific DNA detection by simple light emission. Stable, uniform LAMP–BART droplets are generated with low cost equipment. The composition and scale of these droplets are controllable and the bioluminescent output during DNA amplification can be imaged and quantified. Furthermore these droplets are readily incorporated into encapsulated droplet interface bilayers (eDIBs), or artificial cells, and the bioluminescence tracked in real time for accurate quantification off chip. Microfluidic LAMP–BART droplets with high stability and uniformity of scale coupled with high throughput and low cost generation are suited to digital DNA quantification at low template concentrations and volumes, where multiple measurement partitions are required. The triggerable reaction in the core of eDIBs can be used to study the interrelationship of the droplets with the environment and also used for more complex chemical processing via a self-contained network of droplets, paving the way for smart soft-matter diagnostics.
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21
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Kamiya K. Development of Artificial Cell Models Using Microfluidic Technology and Synthetic Biology. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:E559. [PMID: 32486297 PMCID: PMC7345299 DOI: 10.3390/mi11060559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Giant lipid vesicles or liposomes are primarily composed of phospholipids and form a lipid bilayer structurally similar to that of the cell membrane. These vesicles, like living cells, are 5-100 μm in diameter and can be easily observed using an optical microscope. As their biophysical and biochemical properties are similar to those of the cell membrane, they serve as model cell membranes for the investigation of the biophysical or biochemical properties of the lipid bilayer, as well as its dynamics and structure. Investigation of membrane protein functions and enzyme reactions has revealed the presence of soluble or membrane proteins integrated in the giant lipid vesicles. Recent developments in microfluidic technologies and synthetic biology have enabled the development of well-defined artificial cell models with complex reactions based on the giant lipid vesicles. In this review, using microfluidics, the formations of giant lipid vesicles with asymmetric lipid membranes or complex structures have been described. Subsequently, the roles of these biomaterials in the creation of artificial cell models including nanopores, ion channels, and other membrane and soluble proteins have been discussed. Finally, the complex biological functions of giant lipid vesicles reconstituted with various types of biomolecules has been communicated. These complex artificial cell models contribute to the production of minimal cells or protocells for generating valuable or rare biomolecules and communicating between living cells and artificial cell models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koki Kamiya
- Division of Molecular Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Gunma University, 1-5-1 Tenjin-cho, Kiryu city, Gunma 376-8515, Japan
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22
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Liu J, Tian L, Qiao Y, Zhou S, Patil AJ, Wang K, Li M, Mann S. Hydrogel‐Immobilized Coacervate Droplets as Modular Microreactor Assemblies. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201916481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and ChemometricsCollege of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringKey Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan ProvinceHunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Liangfei Tian
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Yan Qiao
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Shaohong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and ChemometricsCollege of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringKey Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan ProvinceHunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Avinash J. Patil
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Kemin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and ChemometricsCollege of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringKey Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan ProvinceHunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Mei Li
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Stephen Mann
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
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23
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Hindley JW, Law RV, Ces O. Membrane functionalization in artificial cell engineering. SN APPLIED SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42452-020-2357-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractBottom-up synthetic biology aims to construct mimics of cellular structure and behaviour known as artificial cells from a small number of molecular components. The development of this nascent field has coupled new insights in molecular biology with large translational potential for application in fields such as drug delivery and biosensing. Multiple approaches have been applied to create cell mimics, with many efforts focusing on phospholipid-based systems. This mini-review focuses on different approaches to incorporating molecular motifs as tools for lipid membrane functionalization in artificial cell construction. Such motifs range from synthetic chemical functional groups to components from extant biology that can be arranged in a ‘plug-and-play’ approach which is hard to replicate in living systems. Rationally designed artificial cells possess the promise of complex biomimetic behaviour from minimal, highly engineered chemical networks.
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24
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Liu J, Tian L, Qiao Y, Zhou S, Patil AJ, Wang K, Li M, Mann S. Hydrogel‐Immobilized Coacervate Droplets as Modular Microreactor Assemblies. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:6853-6859. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201916481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and ChemometricsCollege of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringKey Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan ProvinceHunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Liangfei Tian
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Yan Qiao
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Shaohong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and ChemometricsCollege of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringKey Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan ProvinceHunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Avinash J. Patil
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Kemin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and ChemometricsCollege of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringKey Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan ProvinceHunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Mei Li
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Stephen Mann
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
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25
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Ai Y, Xie R, Xiong J, Liang Q. Microfluidics for Biosynthesizing: from Droplets and Vesicles to Artificial Cells. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e1903940. [PMID: 31603270 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201903940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Fabrication of artificial biomimetic materials has attracted abundant attention. As one of the subcategories of biomimetic materials, artificial cells are highly significant for multiple disciplines and their synthesis has been intensively pursued. In order to manufacture robust "alive" artificial cells with high throughput, easy operation, and precise control, flexible microfluidic techniques are widely utilized. Herein, recent advances in microfluidic-based methods for the synthesis of droplets, vesicles, and artificial cells are summarized. First, the advances of droplet fabrication and manipulation on the T-junction, flow-focusing, and coflowing microfluidic devices are discussed. Then, the formation of unicompartmental and multicompartmental vesicles based on microfluidics are summarized. Furthermore, the engineering of droplet-based and vesicle-based artificial cells by microfluidics is also reviewed. Moreover, the artificial cells applied for imitating cell behavior and acting as bioreactors for synthetic biology are highlighted. Finally, the current challenges and future trends in microfluidic-based artificial cells are discussed. This review should be helpful for researchers in the fields of microfluidics, biomaterial fabrication, and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjian Ai
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Ruoxiao Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Jialiang Xiong
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Qionglin Liang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
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26
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Li J, Baxani DK, Jamieson WD, Xu W, Rocha VG, Barrow DA, Castell OK. Formation of Polarized, Functional Artificial Cells from Compartmentalized Droplet Networks and Nanomaterials, Using One-Step, Dual-Material 3D-Printed Microfluidics. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2020; 7:1901719. [PMID: 31921557 PMCID: PMC6947711 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201901719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The bottom-up construction of synthetic cells with user-defined chemical organization holds considerable promise in the creation of bioinspired materials. Complex emulsions, droplet networks, and nested vesicles all represent platforms for the engineering of segregated chemistries with controlled communication, analogous to biological cells. Microfluidic manufacture of such droplet-based materials typically results in radial or axisymmetric structures. In contrast, biological cells frequently display chemical polarity or gradients, which enable the determination of directionality, and inform higher-order interactions. Here, a dual-material, 3D-printing methodology to produce microfluidic architectures that enable the construction of functional, asymmetric, hierarchical, emulsion-based artificial cellular chassis is developed. These materials incorporate droplet networks, lipid membranes, and nanoparticle components. Microfluidic 3D-channel arrangements enable symmetry-breaking and the spatial patterning of droplet hierarchies. This approach can produce internal gradients and hemispherically patterned, multilayered shells alongside chemical compartmentalization. Such organization enables incorporation of organic and inorganic components, including lipid bilayers, within the same entity. In this way, functional polarization, that imparts individual and collective directionality on the resulting artificial cells, is demonstrated. This approach enables exploitation of polarity and asymmetry, in conjunction with compartmentalized and networked chemistry, in single and higher-order organized structures, thereby increasing the palette of functionality in artificial cellular materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Li
- Cardiff University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesRedwood Building, King Edward VII AveCardiffCF10 3NBUK
- Cardiff University School of EngineeringQueen's Buildings, 14‐17 The ParadeCardiffCF24 3AAUK
| | - Divesh Kamal Baxani
- Cardiff University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesRedwood Building, King Edward VII AveCardiffCF10 3NBUK
| | - William David Jamieson
- Cardiff University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesRedwood Building, King Edward VII AveCardiffCF10 3NBUK
| | - Wen Xu
- Cardiff Business School Cardiff UniversityAberconway Building, Colum DrCardiffCF10 3EUUK
| | - Victoria Garcia Rocha
- Cardiff University School of EngineeringQueen's Buildings, 14‐17 The ParadeCardiffCF24 3AAUK
| | - David Anthony Barrow
- Cardiff University School of EngineeringQueen's Buildings, 14‐17 The ParadeCardiffCF24 3AAUK
| | - Oliver Kieran Castell
- Cardiff University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesRedwood Building, King Edward VII AveCardiffCF10 3NBUK
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27
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Controlled deprotection and release of a small molecule from a compartmented synthetic tissue module. Commun Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1038/s42004-019-0244-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractSynthetic tissues built from communicating aqueous droplets offer potential applications in biotechnology, however, controlled release of their contents has not been achieved. Here we construct two-droplet synthetic tissue modules that function in an aqueous environment. One droplet contains a cell-free protein synthesis system and a prodrug-activating enzyme and the other a small-molecule prodrug analog. When a Zn2+-sensitive protein pore is made in the first droplet, it allows the prodrug to migrate from the second droplet and become activated by the enzyme. With Zn2+ in the external medium, the activated molecule is retained in the module until it is released on-demand by a divalent cation chelator. The module is constructed in such a manner that one or more, potentially with different properties, might be incorporated into extended synthetic tissues, including patterned materials generated by 3D-printing. Such modules will thereby increase the sophistication of synthetic tissues for applications including controlled multidrug delivery.
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28
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Abstract
While significant advances have been achieved with non-living synthetic cells built from the bottom-up, less progress has been made with the fabrication of synthetic tissues built from such cells. Synthetic tissues comprise patterned three-dimensional (3D) collections of communicating compartments. They can include both biological and synthetic parts and may incorporate features that do more than merely mimic nature. 3D-printed materials based on droplet-interface bilayers are the basis of the most advanced synthetic tissues and are being developed for several applications, including the controlled release of therapeutic agents and the repair of damaged organs. Current goals include the ability to manipulate synthetic tissues by remote signaling and the formation of hybrid structures with fabricated or natural living tissues.
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29
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Sato Y, Takinoue M. Creation of Artificial Cell-Like Structures Promoted by Microfluidics Technologies. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:E216. [PMID: 30934758 PMCID: PMC6523379 DOI: 10.3390/mi10040216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The creation of artificial cells is an immensely challenging task in science. Artificial cells contribute to revealing the mechanisms of biological systems and deepening our understanding of them. The progress of versatile biological research fields has clarified many biological phenomena, and various artificial cell models have been proposed in these fields. Microfluidics provides useful technologies for the study of artificial cells because it allows the fabrication of cell-like compartments, including water-in-oil emulsions and giant unilamellar vesicles. Furthermore, microfluidics also allows the mimicry of cellular functions with chip devices based on sophisticated chamber design. In this review, we describe contributions of microfluidics to the study of artificial cells. Although typical microfluidic methods are useful for the creation of artificial-cell compartments, recent methods provide further benefits, including low-cost fabrication and a reduction of the sample volume. Microfluidics also allows us to create multi-compartments, compartments with artificial organelles, and on-chip artificial cells. We discuss these topics and the future perspective of microfluidics for the study of artificial cells and molecular robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Sato
- Department of Computer Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8502, Japan
| | - Masahiro Takinoue
- Department of Computer Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8502, Japan
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30
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Challita EJ, Freeman EC. Hydrogel Microelectrodes for the Rapid, Reliable, and Repeatable Characterization of Lipid Membranes. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2018; 34:15166-15173. [PMID: 30468580 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b02867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Model lipid bilayer membranes provide approximations of natural cellular membranes that may be formed in the laboratory to study their mechanics and interactions with the surrounding environment. A new approach for their formation is proposed here based on the self-assembly of lipid monolayers at oil-water interfaces, creating a lipid-coated hydrogel-tipped electrode that produces a stable lipid membrane on the surface when introduced to a lipid-coated aqueous droplet. Membrane formation using the hydrogel microelectrode is tested for a variety of lipids and oils. The channel-forming peptide alamethicin is added to the membrane, and its functionality is verified. Finally, asymmetric membranes are created using varying lipid compositions, and the capacity for repeated quantification of membrane structure is demonstrated. The proposed hydrogel microelectrodes are compatible with multiple oils and lipids, simple to use, and suitable for detecting the presence of both biomolecular transporters and dissolved lipid compositions within aqueous droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elio J Challita
- School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering , University of Georgia , 110 Riverbend Road , Athens , Georgia 30605 , United States
| | - Eric C Freeman
- School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering , University of Georgia , 110 Riverbend Road , Athens , Georgia 30605 , United States
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31
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Controlled Construction of Stable Network Structure Composed of Honeycomb-Shaped Microhydrogels. Life (Basel) 2018; 8:life8040038. [PMID: 30241312 PMCID: PMC6316562 DOI: 10.3390/life8040038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, the construction of models for multicellular systems such as tissues has been attracting great interest. These model systems are expected to reproduce a cell communication network and provide insight into complicated functions in living systems./Such network structures have mainly been modelled using a droplet and a vesicle. However, in the droplet and vesicle network, there are difficulties attributed to structural instabilities due to external stimuli and perturbations. Thus, the fabrication of a network composed of a stable component such as hydrogel is desired. In this article, the construction of a stable network composed of honeycomb-shaped microhydrogels is described. We produced the microhydrogel network using a centrifugal microfluidic technique and a photosensitive polymer. In the network, densely packed honeycomb-shaped microhydrogels were observed. Additionally, we successfully controlled the degree of packing of microhydrogels in the network by changing the centrifugal force. We believe that our stable network will contribute to the study of cell communication in multicellular systems.
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32
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Hu X, Zhai S, Liu G, Xing D, Liang H, Liu S. Concurrent Drug Unplugging and Permeabilization of Polyprodrug-Gated Crosslinked Vesicles for Cancer Combination Chemotherapy. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1706307. [PMID: 29635863 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201706307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Combination chemotherapy with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic therapeutic drugs is clinically vital toward the treatment of persistent cancers. Though conventional liposomes and polymeric vesicles possessing hydrophobic bilayers and aqueous interiors can serve as codelivery nanocarriers, it remains a considerable challenge to achieve synchronized release of both types of drugs due to distinct encapsulation mechanisms; premature release of water-soluble cargos from unstable liposomes and ruptured vesicles is also a major concern. Herein, the fabrication of physiologically stable polyprodrug-gated crosslinked vesicles (GCVs) via the self-assembly of camptothecin (CPT) polyprodrug amphiphiles and in situ bilayer crosslinking through traceless sol-gel reaction is reported. Polyprodrug-GCVs possess high CPT loading (>30 wt%) and minimized leakage of encapsulated hydrophilic doxorubicin (DOX) hydrochloride due to the suppressed permeability of crosslinked membrane, exhibiting extended blood circulation (t 1/2 > 13 h) with caged cytotoxicity in physiological circulation. Upon cellular uptake by cancer cells, cytosolic reductive milieu-triggered CPT unplugging from vesicle bilayers is demonstrated to generate hydrophilic mesh channels and make the membrane highly permeable. Concurrently, it will promote DOX corelease from hydrophilic lumen (≈36-fold increase). The reduction-activated combination chemotherapeutic potency based on polyprodrug-GCVs is confirmed by both in vitro and in vivo explorations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianglong Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science and Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, 55 Zhongshan Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Shaodong Zhai
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science and Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, 55 Zhongshan Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Guhuan Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Da Xing
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science and Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, 55 Zhongshan Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Haojun Liang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Shiyong Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
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33
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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: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Booth
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK.
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34
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Encapsulating Networks of Droplet Interface Bilayers in a Thermoreversible Organogel. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6494. [PMID: 29691447 PMCID: PMC5915452 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24720-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of membrane-based materials that exhibit the range and robustness of autonomic functions found in biological systems remains elusive. Droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) have been proposed as building blocks for such materials, owing to their simplicity, geometry, and capability for replicating cellular phenomena. Similar to how individual cells operate together to perform complex tasks and functions in tissues, networks of functionalized DIBs have been assembled in modular/scalable networks. Here we present the printing of different configurations of picoliter aqueous droplets in a bath of thermoreversible organogel consisting of hexadecane and SEBS triblock copolymers. The droplets are connected by means of lipid bilayers, creating a network of aqueous subcompartments capable of communicating and hosting various types of chemicals and biomolecules. Upon cooling, the encapsulating organogel solidifies to form self-supported liquid-in-gel, tissue-like materials that are robust and durable. To test the biomolecular networks, we functionalized the network with alamethicin peptides and alpha-hemolysin (αHL) channels. Both channels responded to external voltage inputs, indicating the assembly process does not damage the biomolecules. Moreover, we show that the membrane properties may be regulated through the deformation of the surrounding gel.
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35
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Mason AF, Buddingh' BC, Williams DS, van Hest JCM. Hierarchical Self-Assembly of a Copolymer-Stabilized Coacervate Protocell. J Am Chem Soc 2017; 139:17309-17312. [PMID: 29134798 PMCID: PMC5724030 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b10846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Complex coacervate microdroplets are finding increased utility in synthetic cell applications due to their cytomimetic properties. However, their intrinsic membrane-free nature results in instability that limits their application in protocell research. Herein, we present the development of a new protocell model through the spontaneous interfacial self-assembly of copolymer molecules on biopolymer coacervate microdroplets. This hierarchical protocell model not only incorporates the favorable properties of coacervates (such as spontaneous assembly and macromolecular condensation) but also assimilates the essential features of a semipermeable copolymeric membrane (such as discretization and stabilization). This was accomplished by engineering an asymmetric, biodegradable triblock copolymer molecule comprising hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and polyanionic components capable of direct coacervate membranization via electrostatic surface anchoring and chain self-association. The resulting hierarchical protocell demonstrated striking integrity as a result of membrane formation, successfully stabilizing enzymatic cargo against coalescence and fusion in discrete protocellular populations. The semipermeable nature of the copolymeric membrane enabled the incorporation of a simple enzymatic cascade, demonstrating chemical communication between discrete populations of neighboring protocells. In this way, we pave the way for the development of new synthetic cell constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander F Mason
- Eindhoven University of Technology , P.O. Box 513 (STO 3.31), 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Bastiaan C Buddingh'
- Eindhoven University of Technology , P.O. Box 513 (STO 3.31), 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - David S Williams
- Eindhoven University of Technology , P.O. Box 513 (STO 3.31), 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Department of Chemistry, Swansea University , Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - Jan C M van Hest
- Eindhoven University of Technology , P.O. Box 513 (STO 3.31), 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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36
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Letteri RA, Santa Chalarca CF, Bai Y, Hayward RC, Emrick T. Forming Sticky Droplets from Slippery Polymer Zwitterions. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2017; 29:1702921. [PMID: 28833762 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201702921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Polymer zwitterions are generally regarded as hydrophilic and repellant or "slippery" materials. Here, a case is described in which the polymer zwitterion structure is tailored to decrease water solubility, stabilize emulsion droplets, and promote interdroplet adhesion. Harnessing the upper critical solution temperature of sulfonium- and ammonium-based polymer zwitterions in water, adhesive droplets are prepared by adding organic solvent to an aqueous polymer solution at elevated temperature, followed by agitation to induce emulsification. Droplet aggregation is observed as the mixture cools. Variation of salt concentration, temperature, polymer concentration, and polymer structure modulates these interdroplet interactions, resulting in distinct changes in emulsion stability and fluidity. Under attractive conditions, emulsions encapsulating 50-75% oil undergo gelation. By contrast, emulsions prepared under conditions where droplets are nonadhesive remain fluid and, for oil fractions exceeding 0.6, coalescence is observed. The uniquely reactive nature of the selected zwitterions allows their in situ modification and affords a route to chemically trigger deaggregation and droplet dispersion. Finally, experiments performed in a microfluidic device, in which droplets are formed under conditions that either promote or suppress adhesion, confirm the salt-responsive character of these emulsions and the persistence of adhesive interdroplet interactions under flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Letteri
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 120 Governors Drive, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Cristiam F Santa Chalarca
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 120 Governors Drive, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Ying Bai
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 120 Governors Drive, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Ryan C Hayward
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 120 Governors Drive, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Todd Emrick
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 120 Governors Drive, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
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37
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Booth MJ, Restrepo Schild V, Box SJ, Bayley H. Light-patterning of synthetic tissues with single droplet resolution. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9315. [PMID: 28839174 PMCID: PMC5570938 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09394-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic tissues can be generated by forming networks of aqueous droplets in lipid-containing oil. Each droplet contains a cell-free expression system and is connected to its neighbor through a lipid bilayer. In the present work, we have demonstrated precise external control of such networks by activating protein expression within single droplets, by using light-activated DNA to encode either a fluorescent or a pore-forming protein. By controlling the extent of activation, synthetic tissues were generated with graded levels of protein expression in patterns of single droplets. Further, we have demonstrated reversible activation within individual compartments in synthetic tissues by turning a fluorescent protein on-and-off. This is the first example of the high-resolution patterning of droplet networks, following their formation. Single-droplet control will be essential to power subsets of compartments within synthetic tissues or to stimulate subsets of cells when synthetic tissues are interfaced with living tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Booth
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK.
| | | | - Stuart J Box
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Hagan Bayley
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK.
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38
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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: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [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.
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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
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39
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Bayoumi M, Bayley H, Maglia G, Sapra KT. Multi-compartment encapsulation of communicating droplets and droplet networks in hydrogel as a model for artificial cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:45167. [PMID: 28367984 PMCID: PMC5377250 DOI: 10.1038/srep45167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Constructing a cell mimic is a major challenge posed by synthetic biologists. Efforts to this end have been primarily focused on lipid- and polymer-encapsulated containers, liposomes and polymersomes, respectively. Here, we introduce a multi-compartment, nested system comprising aqueous droplets stabilized in an oil/lipid mixture, all encapsulated in hydrogel. Functional capabilities (electrical and chemical communication) were imparted by protein nanopores spanning the lipid bilayer formed at the interface of the encapsulated aqueous droplets and the encasing hydrogel. Crucially, the compartmentalization enabled the formation of two adjoining lipid bilayers in a controlled manner, a requirement for the realization of a functional protocell or prototissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Bayoumi
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200G, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hagan Bayley
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanni Maglia
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200G, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.,Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - K Tanuj Sapra
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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40
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Findlay HE, Harris NJ, Booth PJ. In vitro synthesis of a Major Facilitator Transporter for specific active transport across Droplet Interface Bilayers. Sci Rep 2016; 6:39349. [PMID: 27996025 PMCID: PMC5172200 DOI: 10.1038/srep39349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Nature encapsulates reactions within membrane-bound compartments, affording sequential and spatial control over biochemical reactions. Droplet Interface Bilayers are evolving into a valuable platform to mimic this key biological feature in artificial systems. A major issue is manipulating flow across synthetic bilayers. Droplet Interface Bilayers must be functionalised, with seminal work using membrane-inserting toxins, ion channels and pumps illustrating the potential. Specific transport of biomolecules, and notably transport against a concentration gradient, across these bilayers has yet to be demonstrated. Here, we successfully incorporate the archetypal Major Facilitator Superfamily transporter, lactose permease, into Droplet Interface Bilayers and demonstrate both passive and active, uphill transport. This paves the way for controllable transport of sugars, metabolites and other essential biomolecular substrates of this ubiquitous transporter superfamily in DIB networks. Furthermore, cell-free synthesis of lactose permease during DIB formation also results in active transport across the interface bilayer. This adds a specific disaccharide transporter to the small list of integral membrane proteins that can be synthesised via in vitro transcription/translation for applications of DIB-based artificial cell systems. The introduction of a means to promote specific transport of molecules across Droplet Interface Bilayers against a concentration gradient gives a new facet to droplet networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather E Findlay
- Department of Chemistry, Kings College London, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London, SE1 1DB, UK
| | - Nicola J Harris
- Department of Chemistry, Kings College London, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London, SE1 1DB, UK
| | - Paula J Booth
- Department of Chemistry, Kings College London, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London, SE1 1DB, UK
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41
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Baxani DK, Morgan AJL, Jamieson WD, Allender CJ, Barrow DA, Castell OK. Bilayer Networks within a Hydrogel Shell: A Robust Chassis for Artificial Cells and a Platform for Membrane Studies. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016; 55:14240-14245. [PMID: 27726260 PMCID: PMC5129564 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201607571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The ability to make artificial lipid bilayers compatible with a wide range of environments, and with sufficient structural rigidity for manual handling, would open up a wealth of opportunities for their more routine use in real‐world applications. Although droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) have been demonstrated in a host of laboratory applications, from chemical logic to biosynthesis reaction vessels, their wider use is hampered by a lack of mechanical stability and the largely manual methods employed in their production. Multiphase microfluidics has enabled us to construct hierarchical triple emulsions with a semipermeable shell, in order to form robust, bilayer‐bound, droplet networks capable of communication with their external surroundings. These constructs are stable in air, water, and oil environments and overcome a critical obstacle of achieving structural rigidity without compromising environmental interaction. This paves the way for practical application of artificial membranes or droplet networks in diverse areas such as medical applications, drug testing, biophysical studies and their use as synthetic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divesh K Baxani
- College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, UK
| | - Alex J L Morgan
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, 14-17 The Parade, CF4 3AA, Cardiff, UK
| | - William D Jamieson
- College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, UK
| | - Christopher J Allender
- College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, UK
| | - David A Barrow
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, 14-17 The Parade, CF4 3AA, Cardiff, UK
| | - Oliver K Castell
- College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, UK.
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