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Sproncken CCM, Liu P, Monney J, Fall WS, Pierucci C, Scholten PBV, Van Bueren B, Penedo M, Fantner GE, Wensink HH, Steiner U, Weder C, Bruns N, Mayer M, Ianiro A. Large-area, self-healing block copolymer membranes for energy conversion. Nature 2024:10.1038/s41586-024-07481-2. [PMID: 38839964 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07481-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Membranes are widely used for separation processes in applications such as water desalination, batteries and dialysis, and are crucial in key sectors of our economy and society1. The majority of technologically exploited membranes are based on solid polymers and function as passive barriers, whose transport characteristics are governed by their chemical composition and nanostructure. Although such membranes are ubiquitous, it has proved challenging to maximize selectivity and permeability independently, leading to trade-offs between these pertinent characteristics2. Self-assembled biological membranes, in which barrier and transport functions are decoupled3,4, provide the inspiration to address this problem5,6. Here we introduce a self-assembly strategy that uses the interface of an aqueous two-phase system to template and stabilize molecularly thin (approximately 35 nm) biomimetic block copolymer bilayers of scalable area that can exceed 10 cm2 without defects. These membranes are self-healing, and their barrier function against the passage of ions (specific resistance of approximately 1 MΩ cm2) approaches that of phospholipid membranes. The fluidity of these membranes enables straightforward functionalization with molecular carriers that shuttle potassium ions down a concentration gradient with exquisite selectivity over sodium ions. This ion selectivity enables the generation of electric power from equimolar solutions of NaCl and KCl in devices that mimic the electric organ of electric rays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian C M Sproncken
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Peng Liu
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Justin Monney
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - William S Fall
- Laboratoire de Physique des Solides - UMR 8502, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Carolina Pierucci
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Philip B V Scholten
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Brian Van Bueren
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Marcos Penedo
- Laboratory for Bio- and Nano-Instrumentation, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Georg Ernest Fantner
- Laboratory for Bio- and Nano-Instrumentation, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Henricus H Wensink
- Laboratoire de Physique des Solides - UMR 8502, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Ullrich Steiner
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Weder
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Nico Bruns
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Synthetic Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Michael Mayer
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
| | - Alessandro Ianiro
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
- Swiss National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR) Bio-inspired Materials, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
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Naz M, Zhang L, Chen C, Yang S, Dou H, Mann S, Li J. Self-assembly of stabilized droplets from liquid-liquid phase separation for higher-order structures and functions. Commun Chem 2024; 7:79. [PMID: 38594355 PMCID: PMC11004187 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01168-5] [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: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Dynamic microscale droplets produced by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) have emerged as appealing biomaterials due to their remarkable features. However, the instability of droplets limits the construction of population-level structures with collective behaviors. Here we first provide a brief background of droplets in the context of materials properties. Subsequently, we discuss current strategies for stabilizing droplets including physical separation and chemical modulation. We also discuss the recent development of LLPS droplets for various applications such as synthetic cells and biomedical materials. Finally, we give insights on how stabilized droplets can self-assemble into higher-order structures displaying coordinated functions to fully exploit their potentials in bottom-up synthetic biology and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehwish Naz
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 429 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 429 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Chong Chen
- MediCity Research Laboratory, University of Turku, Tykistökatu 6, Turku, 20520, Finland
| | - Shuo Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 429 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Hongjing Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 429 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Stephen Mann
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 429 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
- 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, BS8 1TS, UK.
| | - Jianwei Li
- MediCity Research Laboratory, University of Turku, Tykistökatu 6, Turku, 20520, Finland.
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Abeysinghe AADT, Young EJ, Rowland AT, Dunshee LC, Urandur S, Sullivan MO, Kerfeld CA, Keating CD. Interfacial Assembly of Bacterial Microcompartment Shell Proteins in Aqueous Multiphase Systems. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2308390. [PMID: 38037673 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202308390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Compartments are a fundamental feature of life, based variously on lipid membranes, protein shells, or biopolymer phase separation. Here, this combines self-assembling bacterial microcompartment (BMC) shell proteins and liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to develop new forms of compartmentalization. It is found that BMC shell proteins assemble at the liquid-liquid interfaces between either 1) the dextran-rich droplets and PEG-rich continuous phase of a poly(ethyleneglycol)(PEG)/dextran aqueous two-phase system, or 2) the polypeptide-rich coacervate droplets and continuous dilute phase of a polylysine/polyaspartate complex coacervate system. Interfacial protein assemblies in the coacervate system are sensitive to the ratio of cationic to anionic polypeptides, consistent with electrostatically-driven assembly. In both systems, interfacial protein assembly competes with aggregation, with protein concentration and polycation availability impacting coating. These two LLPS systems are then combined to form a three-phase system wherein coacervate droplets are contained within dextran-rich phase droplets. Interfacial localization of BMC hexameric shell proteins is tunable in a three-phase system by changing the polyelectrolyte charge ratio. The tens-of-micron scale BMC shell protein-coated droplets introduced here can accommodate bioactive cargo such as enzymes or RNA and represent a new synthetic cell strategy for organizing biomimetic functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric J Young
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Andrew T Rowland
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
| | - Lucas C Dunshee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Sandeep Urandur
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Millicent O Sullivan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Cheryl A Kerfeld
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Christine D Keating
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
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Nguyen DNT, Waldmann L, Lapeyre V, Arbault S, Ravaine V, Nicolai T, Benyahia L. Effect of charge on the stabilization of water-in-water emulsions by thermosensitive bis-hydrophilic microgels. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 646:484-492. [PMID: 37209548 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Molecular surfactants are not able to stabilize water-in-water (W/W) emulsions, unlike nano or micro-particles, which can achieve this in some cases. However, the effect of electrostatic interactions between particles on the emulsion stability has rarely been investigated. We hypothesize that introducing charges modifies the stabilization capacity of particles and renders it both pH- and ionic strength-dependent. EXPERIMENTS Charge was introduced into bis-hydrophilic and thermoresponsive dextran/polyN-isopropylacrylamide microgels by replacing a small fraction of polyN-isopropylacrylamide with acrylic acid groups. The size of the microgels was obtained by dynamic light scattering. The stability and microstructure of dextran/poly(ethyleneoxide)-based W/W emulsions, was studied as a function of pH, NaCl concentration and temperature using confocal microscopy and by analytical centrifugation. FINDINGS The swelling degree of charged microgels depends on the pH, ionic strength and the temperature. In the absence of salt, charged microgels do not adsorb at the interface and have little stabilizing effect even after neutralization. However, the interfacial coverage and the stability increase with rising concentration of NaCl. Saltinduced stabilization of these emulsions was also observed at 50 °C. Increasing the temperature strongly influences the emulsion stability at low pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do Nhu Trang Nguyen
- IMMM, UMR 6283 CNRS - Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 Le Mans Cedex 9, France
| | - Léa Waldmann
- Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR 5255 CNRS - Univ. Bordeaux, F-33400 Talence, France
| | - Véronique Lapeyre
- Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR 5255 CNRS - Univ. Bordeaux, F-33400 Talence, France
| | - Stéphane Arbault
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN UMR 5248, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Valérie Ravaine
- Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR 5255 CNRS - Univ. Bordeaux, F-33400 Talence, France
| | - Taco Nicolai
- IMMM, UMR 6283 CNRS - Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 Le Mans Cedex 9, France.
| | - Lazhar Benyahia
- IMMM, UMR 6283 CNRS - Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 Le Mans Cedex 9, France.
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Zhou Y, Zhu M, Sun Y, Zhu Y, Zhang S. Fabrication of Macroporous Polymers via Water-in-Water Emulsion-Templating Technique. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:302-307. [PMID: 36780492 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.2c00712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Emulsion-templated porous polymers have attracted broad attention due to their great application prospects in many fields. However, scaling up the emulsion-templated technique from the lab to industrial production remains a great challenge, especially for systems involving an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion template that is used normally for preparing hydrophilic porous polymers. These systems require large amounts of organic solvents to be the internal phase (i.e., major phase) of the emulsion templates, which causes a significant environmental impact and cost. Herein, a water-in-water (w/w) emulsion-templated technique is presented to prepare porous hydrophilic polymers. The w/w emulsion is prepared by mixing a PEG aqueous solution and a dextran aqueous solution with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as a stabilizer. With varying the mass ratio of dextran/PEG in the range of 1/2 to 8/1, a series of dextran-rich-phase-in-PEG-rich-phase (dextran/PEG) emulsions are obtained. Subsequently, monomers, such as acrylamide, acrylic acid, and/or 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, are introduced to the emulsions to fabricate porous hydrophilic polymers. These polymers have an open-cell structure like those of o/w emulsion-templated polymers. The system developed herein is an environmentally friendly, low cost, and universal emulsion-templated method toward porous hydrophilic polymers, which avoids the defects caused by the presence of large amounts of organic solvents in an o/w emulsion-templating method and can be moved from the lab to industrial-scale production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiding Zhou
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials, Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Mengze Zhu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials, Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yuanyuan Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials, Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yun Zhu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials, Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Shengmiao Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymeric Materials, Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
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6
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Xie Y, Ruan M, Zhang J, Kibtia M, Li L, Li B, Zhang Y, Liu S. Water-in-water Pickering emulsion stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals as space-confined encapsulating systems: From establishment to stability. Food Hydrocoll 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2023.108719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
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7
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Zhou C, Xie Y, Li Y, Li B, Zhang Y, Liu S. Water-in-water emulsion stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals and their high enrichment effect on probiotic bacteria. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 633:254-264. [PMID: 36459932 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.11.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS The effect of the molecular weight and polymer concentration on the partition behavior of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPs) is significant for constructing water-in-water (W/W) emulsions. Hence, a long-term stable W/W emulsion system might be obtained through selecting the appropriate stabilizer and component phases, which could be a possible carrier for probiotics. EXPERIMENTS Compared with the reported molecular weight difference between polyethylene oxide (PEO) and dextran (DEX) systems, PEO and dextran with lower molecular weight had been used for constructing the water in water (W/W) emulsion system. The W/W emulsions were stabilized using cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), and the potential application of the W/W emulsion for the encapsulation of Lactobacillus was explored. FINDINGS Emulsion stability exhibited a "dose-effect" relationship with the CNCs concentration and was decreased with the increase of the DEX concentration. The emulsion phase separation rate was increased with increasing ionic strength and temperature. Both Lactobacillus Plantarum and Lactobacillus helveticus were highly inclined to the DEX phase, and the emulsion droplets were deformed and aggregated when the encapsulation amount was increased. This long-term stability would provide a promising approach for designing high-density culture and fermentation of probiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyi Zhou
- College of Food Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Yunxiao Xie
- College of Food Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Yan Li
- College of Food Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Bin Li
- College of Food Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Yangyang Zhang
- Hubei Gedian Humanwell Pharmaceutical Excipients Co., LTD, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Shilin Liu
- College of Food Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
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8
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Esquena J. Recent advances on water-in-water emulsions in segregative systems of two water-soluble polymers. Curr Opin Food Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cofs.2023.101010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
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9
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Xu H, Cui W, Zong Z, Tan Y, Xu C, Cao J, Lai T, Tang Q, Wang Z, Sui X, Wang C. A facile method for anti-cancer drug encapsulation into polymersomes with a core-satellite structure. Drug Deliv 2022; 29:2414-2427. [PMID: 35904177 PMCID: PMC9341360 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2022.2103209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Polymersomes possess the self-assembly vesicular structure similar to liposomes. Although a variety of comparisons between polymersomes and liposomes in the aspects of physical properties, preparation and applications have been elaborated in many studies, few focus on their differences in drug encapsulation, delivery and release in vitro and in vivo. In the present work, we have provided a modified direct hydration method to encapsulate anti-cancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) into PEG-b-PCL constituted polymersomes (PTX@PS). In addition to advantages including narrow particle size distribution, high colloid stability and moderate drug-loading efficiency, we find that the loaded drug aggregate in small clusters and reside through the polymersome membrane, representing a unique core-satellite structure which might facilitate the sustained drug release. Compared with commercial liposomal PTX formulation (Lipusu®), PTX@PS exhibited superb tumor cell killing ability underlain by multiple pro-apoptotic mechanisms. Moreover, endocytic process of PTX@PS significantly inhibits drug transporter P-gp expression which could be largely activated by free drug diffusion. In glioma mice models, it has also confirmed that PTX@PS remarkably eradicate tumors, which renders polymersomes as a promising alternative to liposomes as drug carriers in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongchao Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shenzhen Hospital and The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Weiwei Cui
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zhitao Zong
- Department of neurosurgery, JiuJiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiujiang, P. R. China
| | - Yinqiu Tan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Congjun Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Jiahui Cao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Ting Lai
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Qi Tang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zhongjuan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, P. R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Sui
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Cuifeng Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.,Department of neurosurgery, JiuJiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiujiang, P. R. China
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Jeyhani M, Navi M, Chan KWY, Kieda J, Tsai SSH. Water-in-water droplet microfluidics: A design manual. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2022; 16:061503. [PMID: 36406338 PMCID: PMC9674389 DOI: 10.1063/5.0119316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics is utilized in a wide range of applications in biomedicine and biology. Applications include rapid biochemical analysis, materials generation, biochemical assays, and point-of-care medicine. The integration of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) into droplet microfluidic platforms has potential utility in oil-free biological and biomedical applications, namely, reducing cytotoxicity and preserving the native form and function of costly biomolecular reagents. In this review, we present a design manual for the chemist, biologist, and engineer to design experiments in the context of their biological applications using all-in-water droplet microfluidic systems. We describe the studies achievable using these systems and the corresponding fabrication and stabilization methods. With this information, readers may apply the fundamental principles and recent advancements in ATPS droplet microfluidics to their research. Finally, we propose a development roadmap of opportunities to utilize ATPS droplet microfluidics in applications that remain underexplored.
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Daradmare S, Lee CS. Recent progress in the synthesis of all-aqueous two-phase droplets using microfluidic approaches. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2022; 219:112795. [PMID: 36049253 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
An aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) is a system with liquid-liquid phase separation and shows great potential for the extraction, separation, purification, and enrichment of proteins, membranes, viruses, enzymes, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules because of its simplicity, biocompatibility, and wide applicability [1-4]. The clear aqueous-aqueous interface of ATPSs is highly advantageous for their implementation, therefore making ATPSs a green alternative approach to replace conventional emulsion systems, such as water-in-oil droplets. All aqueous emulsions (water-in-water, w-in-w) hold great promise in the biomedical field as glucose sensors [5] and promising carriers for the encapsulation and release of various biomolecules and nonbiomolecules [6-10]. However, the ultralow interfacial tension between the two phases is a hurdle in generating w-in-w emulsion droplets. In the past, bulk emulsification and electrospray techniques were employed for the generation of w-in-w emulsion droplets and the fabrication of microparticles and microcapsules in the later stage. Bulk emulsification is a simple and low-cost technique; however, it generates polydisperse w-in-w emulsion droplets. Another technique, electrospray, involves easy experimental setups that can generate monodisperse but nonspherical w-in-w emulsion droplets. In comparison, microfluidic platforms provide monodisperse w-in-w emulsion droplets with spherical shapes, deal with the small volumes of solutions and short reaction times and achieve portability and versatility in their design through rapid prototyping. Owing to several advantages, microfluidic approaches have recently been introduced. To date, several different strategies have been explored to generate w-in-w emulsions and multiple w-in-w emulsions and to fabricate microparticles and microcapsules using conventional microfluidic devices. Although a few review articles on ATPSs emulsions have been published in the past, to date, few reviews have exclusively focused on the evolution of microfluidic-based ATPS droplets. The present review begins with a brief discussion of the history of ATPSs and their fundamentals, which is followed by an account chronicling the integration of microfluidic devices with ATPSs to generate w-in-w emulsion droplets. Furthermore, the stabilization strategies of w-in-w emulsion droplets and microfluidic fabrication of microparticles and microcapsules for modern applications, such as biomolecule encapsulation and spheroid construction, are discussed in detail in this review. We believe that the present review will provide useful information to not only new entrants in the microfluidic community wanting to appreciate the findings of the field but also existing researchers wanting to keep themselves updated on progress in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Daradmare
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Soo Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea.
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12
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Coudon N, Navailles L, Nallet F, Ly I, Bentaleb A, Chapel JP, Béven L, Douliez JP, Martin N. Stabilization of all-aqueous droplets by interfacial self-assembly of fatty acids bilayers. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 617:257-266. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.02.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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13
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Demulsification of (W1+W2+W3)/O Reverse Cerberus Emulsion from Vibrational Emulsification. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.129623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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14
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Zhou C, Zhu P, Tian Y, Shi R, Wang L. Progress in all-aqueous droplets generation with microfluidics: Mechanisms of formation and stability improvements. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2022; 3:021301. [PMID: 38505416 PMCID: PMC10914135 DOI: 10.1063/5.0054201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
All-aqueous systems have attracted intensive attention as a promising platform for applications in cell separation, protein partitioning, and DNA extraction, due to their selective separation capability, rapid mass transfer, and good biocompatibility. Reliable generation of all-aqueous droplets with accurate control over their size and size distribution is vital to meet the increasingly growing demands in emulsion-based applications. However, the ultra-low interfacial tension and large effective interfacial thickness of the water-water interface pose challenges for the generation and stabilization of uniform all-aqueous droplets, respectively. Microfluidics technology has emerged as a versatile platform for the precision generation of all-aqueous droplets with improved stability. This review aims to systematize the controllable generation of all-aqueous droplets and summarize various strategies to improve their stability with microfluidics. We first provide a comprehensive review on the recent progress of all-aqueous droplets generation with microfluidics by detailing the properties of all-aqueous systems, mechanisms of droplet formation, active and passive methods for droplet generation, and the property of droplets. We then review the various strategies used to improve the stability of all-aqueous droplets and discuss the fabrication of biomaterials using all-aqueous droplets as liquid templates. We envision that this review will benefit the future development of all-aqueous droplet generation and its applications in developing biomaterials, which will be useful for researchers working in the field of all-aqueous systems and those who are new and interested in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pingan Zhu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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15
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Perro A, Coudon N, Chapel JP, Martin N, Béven L, Douliez JP. Building micro-capsules using water-in-water emulsion droplets as templates. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 613:681-696. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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16
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Singh V, Md S, Alhakamy NA, Kesharwani P. Taxanes loaded polymersomes as an emerging polymeric nanocarrier for cancer therapy. Eur Polym J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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17
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Plucinski A, Schmidt BVKJ. pH sensitive water-in-water emulsions based on the pullulan and poly( N, N-dimethylacrylamide) aqueous two-phase system. Polym Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2py00469k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A novel aqueous two-phase system based on pullulan and poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) is presented. Furthermore, it is used for the formation of pH sensitive water-in-water emulsions.
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18
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Ma Q, Xu J. Green microfluidics in microchemical engineering for carbon neutrality. Chin J Chem Eng 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2022.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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19
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Constantinou AP, Tall A, Li Q, Georgiou TK. Liquid–liquid phase separation in aqueous solutions of poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate homopolymers. JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pol.20210714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna P. Constantinou
- Department of Materials Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, Royal School of Mines London UK
| | - Amy Tall
- Department of Materials Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, Royal School of Mines London UK
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Materials Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, Royal School of Mines London UK
| | - Theoni K. Georgiou
- Department of Materials Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, Royal School of Mines London UK
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20
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Somuncuoğlu B, Lee YL, Constantinou AP, Poussin DL, Georgiou TK. Ethyl methacrylate diblock copolymers as polymeric surfactants: Effect of molar mass and composition. Eur Polym J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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21
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Plucinski A, Pavlovic M, Schmidt BVKJ. All-Aqueous Multi-phase Systems and Emulsions Formed via Low-Concentration Ultra-high-Molar Mass Polyacrylamides. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marko Pavlovic
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam 14476, Germany
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22
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A new method to prepare microparticles based on an Aqueous Two-Phase system (ATPS), without organic solvents. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 599:642-649. [PMID: 33979746 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.03.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Aqueous Two-Phase Systems (ATPS) are aqueous droplets dispersed in an aqueous phase. This specific behavior arises from interactions between at least two water-soluble entities, such as thermodynamically incompatible polymers. A simple, fast, and "green" process to produce ATPS with an aqueous core would be of high interest to the pharmaceutical field for drug delivery. However, to date, rapid destabilization of ATPS represents the main hurdle for their use. Herein we present a novel process to achieve a stabilized microparticle-ATPS, without the use of organic solvents. EXPERIMENTS ATPS composed of dextran and polyethylene oxide were prepared. A Pickering-like emulsion technique was used to stabilize the ATPS by adsorbing semi-solid particles (chitosan-grafted lipid nanocapsules) at the interface between the two aqueous phases. Finally, microparticles were formed by a polyelectrolyte complexation and gelation. The structure and stability of ATPS were characterized using microscopy and Turbiscan analysis. FINDINGS Adding chitosan-grafted lipid nanocapsules induced ATPS stabilization. Adding a polyelectrolyte such as sodium alginate allowed the formation of microparticles with a gelled shell that strengthened the formulation against shear stress and improved long-term stability, thus demonstrating that is possible to use ATPS to form delivery systems to encapsulate hydrophilic molecules.
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23
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Gebhard F, Hartmann J, Hardt S. Interaction of proteins with phase boundaries in aqueous two-phase systems under electric fields. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:3929-3936. [PMID: 33720237 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01921f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The electric-field driven transport of proteins across the liquid-liquid interface in an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) is studied in a microfluidic device using fluorescence microscopy. An ATPS containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran is employed, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) and bovine γ-globulins (BγG) are considered as model proteins. It is shown that both proteins, initially in the dextran-rich phase, accumulate at the liquid-liquid interface, preferably close to the three-phase contact line between the two liquid phases and the microchannel wall. It is in these regions where the proteins penetrate into the PEG-rich phase. The transport resistance of the liquid-liquid interface is higher for BγG than for BSA, such that a much larger molar flux of BSA into the PEG phase is observed. This opens up the opportunity of separating different protein species by utilizing differences in the transport resistance at the interface. A mathematical model is developed, accounting for adsorption and desorption processes at the liquid-liquid interface. The underlying theoretical concept is that of an electrostatic potential minimum formed by superposing the applied electric field and the field due to the Donnan potential at the interface. A fit of the model parameters to the experimental data results in good agreement between theory and experiments, thereby corroborating the underlying picture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Gebhard
- Technische Universität Darmstadt, Fachbereich Maschinenbau, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
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24
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Liu T, Yi S, Liu G, Hao X, Du T, Chen J, Meng T, Li P, Wang Y. Aqueous two-phase emulsions-templated tailorable porous alginate beads for 3D cell culture. Carbohydr Polym 2021; 258:117702. [PMID: 33593573 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.117702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A facile method was developed to produce porous alginate beads (PABs) with a controllable interconnected porous structure with aqueous two phase (ATPS) emulsions as template for 3D cell culture. ATPS emulsions, containing two biocompatible immiscible aqueous phases of cell/dextran (Dex) mixture and alginate (Alg)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) mixture and stabilized by mPEG-BSA particles, were introduced to form PABs. The pore size of PABs could be controlled by changing the emulsification frequency and the volume ratio between the ATPS emulsions and PEG-Alg solution. Moreover, cells could be directly encapsulated in the interconnected pores due to the excellent biocompatibility of ATPS. HeLa and human liver cancer cells encapsulated in the PABs present stronger cell activity (>95 %), proliferation, and enhanced functions compared with the cells encapsulated in general alginate beads (GABs). It is believed that the PABs is a promising microcarriers for 3D cell culture in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Liu
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, PR China
| | - Shuting Yi
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, PR China
| | - Gang Liu
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, PR China
| | - Xin Hao
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, PR China
| | - Ting Du
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, PR China
| | - Jialin Chen
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, PR China
| | - Tao Meng
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, PR China
| | - Ping Li
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, PR China.
| | - Yaolei Wang
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, PR China.
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25
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Liu Q, Yuan Z, Zhao M, Huisman M, Drewes G, Piskorz T, Mytnyk S, Koper GJM, Mendes E, Esch JH. Interfacial Microcompartmentalization by Kinetic Control of Selective Interfacial Accumulation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202009701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering Delft University of Technology van der Maasweg 9 Delft 2629 HZ The Netherlands
| | - Zhenyu Yuan
- Department of Chemical Engineering East China University of Science and Technology Meilong 130 Shanghai 200237 P. R. China
| | - Meng Zhao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering Delft University of Technology Mekelweg 2 Delft 2628 CD The Netherlands
| | - Max Huisman
- Department of Chemical Engineering Delft University of Technology van der Maasweg 9 Delft 2629 HZ The Netherlands
| | - Gido Drewes
- Department of Chemical Engineering Delft University of Technology van der Maasweg 9 Delft 2629 HZ The Netherlands
| | - Tomasz Piskorz
- Department of Chemical Engineering Delft University of Technology van der Maasweg 9 Delft 2629 HZ The Netherlands
| | - Serhii Mytnyk
- Department of Chemical Engineering Delft University of Technology van der Maasweg 9 Delft 2629 HZ The Netherlands
| | - Ger J. M. Koper
- Department of Chemical Engineering Delft University of Technology van der Maasweg 9 Delft 2629 HZ The Netherlands
| | - Eduardo Mendes
- Department of Chemical Engineering Delft University of Technology van der Maasweg 9 Delft 2629 HZ The Netherlands
| | - Jan H. Esch
- Department of Chemical Engineering Delft University of Technology van der Maasweg 9 Delft 2629 HZ The Netherlands
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26
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Liu Q, Yuan Z, Zhao M, Huisman M, Drewes G, Piskorz T, Mytnyk S, Koper GJM, Mendes E, van Esch JH. Interfacial Microcompartmentalization by Kinetic Control of Selective Interfacial Accumulation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:23748-23754. [PMID: 32914922 PMCID: PMC7894335 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202009701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Reported here is a 2D, interfacial microcompartmentalization strategy governed by 3D phase separation. In aqueous polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions doped with biotinylated polymers, the polymers spontaneously accumulate in the interfacial layer between the oil-surfactant-water interface and the adjacent polymer phase. In aqueous two-phase systems, these polymers first accumulated in the interfacial layer separating two polymer solutions and then selectively migrated to the oil-PEG interfacial layer. By using polymers with varying photopolymerizable groups and crosslinking rates, kinetic control and capture of spatial organisation in a variety of compartmentalized macroscopic structures, without the need of creating barrier layers, was achieved. This selective interfacial accumulation provides an extension of 3D phase separation towards synthetic compartmentalization, and is also relevant for understanding intracellular organisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liu
- Department of Chemical EngineeringDelft University of Technologyvan der Maasweg 9Delft2629 HZThe Netherlands
| | - Zhenyu Yuan
- Department of Chemical EngineeringEast China University of Science and TechnologyMeilong 130Shanghai200237P. R. China
| | - Meng Zhao
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringDelft University of TechnologyMekelweg 2Delft2628 CDThe Netherlands
| | - Max Huisman
- Department of Chemical EngineeringDelft University of Technologyvan der Maasweg 9Delft2629 HZThe Netherlands
| | - Gido Drewes
- Department of Chemical EngineeringDelft University of Technologyvan der Maasweg 9Delft2629 HZThe Netherlands
| | - Tomasz Piskorz
- Department of Chemical EngineeringDelft University of Technologyvan der Maasweg 9Delft2629 HZThe Netherlands
| | - Serhii Mytnyk
- Department of Chemical EngineeringDelft University of Technologyvan der Maasweg 9Delft2629 HZThe Netherlands
| | - Ger J. M. Koper
- Department of Chemical EngineeringDelft University of Technologyvan der Maasweg 9Delft2629 HZThe Netherlands
| | - Eduardo Mendes
- Department of Chemical EngineeringDelft University of Technologyvan der Maasweg 9Delft2629 HZThe Netherlands
| | - Jan H. van Esch
- Department of Chemical EngineeringDelft University of Technologyvan der Maasweg 9Delft2629 HZThe Netherlands
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27
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Dumas F, Roger E, Rodriguez J, Benyahia L, Benoit JP. Aqueous Two-Phase Systems: simple one-step process formulation and phase diagram for characterisation. Colloid Polym Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00396-020-04748-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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28
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Ma Q, Song Y, Sun W, Cao J, Yuan H, Wang X, Sun Y, Shum HC. Cell-Inspired All-Aqueous Microfluidics: From Intracellular Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation toward Advanced Biomaterials. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2020; 7:1903359. [PMID: 32274317 PMCID: PMC7141073 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201903359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Living cells have evolved over billions of years to develop structural and functional complexity with numerous intracellular compartments that are formed due to liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Discovery of the amazing and vital roles of cells in life has sparked tremendous efforts to investigate and replicate the intracellular LLPS. Among them, all-aqueous emulsions are a minimalistic liquid model that recapitulates the structural and functional features of membraneless organelles and protocells. Here, an emerging all-aqueous microfluidic technology derived from micrometer-scaled manipulation of LLPS is presented; the technology enables the state-of-art design of advanced biomaterials with exquisite structural proficiency and diversified biological functions. Moreover, a variety of emerging biomedical applications, including encapsulation and delivery of bioactive gradients, fabrication of artificial membraneless organelles, as well as printing and assembly of predesigned cell patterns and living tissues, are inspired by their cellular counterparts. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for further advancing the cell-inspired all-aqueous microfluidics toward a more powerful and versatile platform are discussed, particularly regarding new opportunities in multidisciplinary fundamental research and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingming Ma
- Department of PharmaceuticsSchool of PharmacyQingdao UniversityQingdao266021China
| | - Yang Song
- Wallace H Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of Technology & Emory School of MedicineAtlantaGA30332USA
| | - Wentao Sun
- Center for Basic Medical ResearchTEDA International Cardiovascular HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical CollegeTianjin300457China
| | - Jie Cao
- Department of PharmaceuticsSchool of PharmacyQingdao UniversityQingdao266021China
| | - Hao Yuan
- Institute of Applied MechanicsNational Taiwan UniversityTaipei10617Taiwan
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Institute of Thermal Science and TechnologyShandong UniversityJinan250061China
| | - Yong Sun
- Department of PharmaceuticsSchool of PharmacyQingdao UniversityQingdao266021China
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Hong KongPokfulam RoadHong Kong
- HKU‐Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU‐SIRI)Shenzhen518000China
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29
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Chao Y, Shum HC. Emerging aqueous two-phase systems: from fundamentals of interfaces to biomedical applications. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:114-142. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cs00466a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This review summarizes recent advances of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs), particularly their interfaces, with a focus on biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youchuang Chao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- The University of Hong Kong
- China
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- The University of Hong Kong
- China
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30
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Pavlovic M, Plucinski A, Zeininger L, Schmidt BVKJ. Temperature sensitive water-in-water emulsions. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:6814-6817. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cc02171g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Temperature sensitive water-in-water (W/W) emulsions are described utilizing the thermal induced conformation change of tailored thermoresponsive block copolymers to reversibly stabilize and destabilize water–water interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Pavlovic
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
- Department of Colloid Chemistry
- 14476 Potsdam
- Germany
| | | | - Lukas Zeininger
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
- Department of Colloid Chemistry
- 14476 Potsdam
- Germany
| | - Bernhard V. K. J. Schmidt
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
- Department of Colloid Chemistry
- 14476 Potsdam
- Germany
- School of Chemistry
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31
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Tripodi E, Lazidis A, Norton IT, Spyropoulos F. Food Structure Development in Emulsion Systems. HANDBOOK OF FOOD STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/9781788016155-00059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
A number of food products exist, in part or entirely, as emulsions, while others are present in an emulsified state at some point during their production/formation. Mayonnaise, butter, margarine, salad dressing, whipped cream, and ice cream represent some of the typical examples of emulsion-based foods. Controlled by both formulation and processing aspects, the emulsion architecture that is formed ultimately determines many of the attributes of the final food product. This chapter initially provides an overview of the basic constituents of emulsions and their influence on the microstructure and stability of conventional as well as more complex systems. The available spectrum of processing routes and characterization techniques currently utilized (or emerging) within the area of emulsions is then discussed. The chapter concludes with a concise outline of the relationship between food emulsion microstructure design and its performance (textural, rheological, sensorial, etc.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Tripodi
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Birmingham UK
| | - Aris Lazidis
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Birmingham UK
- Nestlé Product Technology Centre, York UK
| | - Ian T. Norton
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Birmingham UK
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32
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Zheng C, Huang Z. Self-assembly of hydrophobic associating polyacrylamide prepared by aqueous dispersion polymerization. J DISPER SCI TECHNOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/01932691.2018.1511434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cunchuan Zheng
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, The People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiyu Huang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, The People’s Republic of China
- Engineering Research Center of Oilfield Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, The People's Republic of China
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33
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Martin N. Dynamic Synthetic Cells Based on Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation. Chembiochem 2019; 20:2553-2568. [PMID: 31039282 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Living cells have long been a source of inspiration for chemists. Their capacity of performing complex tasks relies on the spatiotemporal coordination of matter and energy fluxes. Recent years have witnessed growing interest in the bottom-up construction of cell-like models capable of reproducing aspects of such dynamic organisation. Liquid-liquid phase-separation (LLPS) processes in water are increasingly recognised as representing a viable compartmentalisation strategy through which to produce dynamic synthetic cells. Herein, we highlight examples of the dynamic properties of LLPS used to assemble synthetic cells, including their biocatalytic activity, reversible condensation and dissolution, growth and division, and recent directions towards the design of higher-order structures and behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Martin
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, UMR 5031, 115 Avenue du Dr. Albert Schweitzer, 33600, Pessac, France
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34
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Douliez JP, Perro A, Béven L. Stabilization of All-in-Water Emulsions To Form Capsules as Artificial Cells. Chembiochem 2019; 20:2546-2552. [PMID: 31087750 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Building artificial cells through a bottom-up approach is a remarkable challenge that would be of interest for our understanding of the origin of life, research into the minimal conditions required for life, the formation of bioreactors, and for industrial applications. To date, capsules such as liposomes, including polymersomes, are widely used, but the low membrane permeability and method to encapsulate biological materials within these structures hamper their use. By contrast, all-in-water emulsion droplets, including coacervate droplets, are promising compartments, mainly because they can spontaneously sequester chemicals. However, they lack a membrane necessary to control exchange between the inner and outer media. Moreover, droplets tend to coalesce with time, yielding macroscopic phase separation that is deleterious for any use as artificial cells. Recent advances, which are reviewed herein, have shown that such droplets can be stabilized by using lipid membranes, liposomes, polymers, proteins, and particles, and thus, preventing coalescence. Finally, different strategies that could allow the future development of artificial cells from these stabilized all-in-water emulsion droplets are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Paul Douliez
- UMR 1332, Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, INRA, Centre de Bordeaux, Université de Bordeaux, Équipe Mollicute, 71, rue E. Bourlaux, 33883, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Adeline Perro
- Université de Bordeaux, INP Bordeaux, ISM, UMR 5255, site ENSCBP, 16 av. Pey-Berland, 33607, Pessac, France
| | - Laure Béven
- UMR 1332, Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, INRA, Centre de Bordeaux, Université de Bordeaux, Équipe Mollicute, 71, rue E. Bourlaux, 33883, Villenave d'Ornon, France
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35
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Akamatsu K, Kurita R, Sato D, Nakao SI. Aqueous Two-Phase System Formation in Small Droplets by Shirasu Porous Glass Membrane Emulsification Followed by Water Extraction. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:9825-9830. [PMID: 31293166 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b01320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
By utilizing water transport phenomena between two different water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion droplets through continuous oil phase, we developed a novel method of aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) formation in small droplets prepared by Shirasu porous glass (SPG) membrane emulsification technique. When we mixed W/O emulsion droplets containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and dextran (DEX) at concentrations below the threshold of the phase separation, with droplets containing other solutes at high concentrations, water extraction from the droplets containing PEG and DEX to those containing the other solutes occurred, owing to the osmotic pressure difference. This effect increased the concentrations of PEG and DEX in the droplets above the phase separation threshold. We demonstrated the feasibility of the preparation method by varying the pore sizes of the SPG membranes, the solutes, and their concentrations. Only when the concentration of the solute was high enough to extract sufficient amounts of water did the homogeneous disperse phase consisting of PEG and DEX in droplets turn into a PEG-rich phase and DEX-rich phase, showing ATPS. This result was irrespective of the solute itself and pore size of the SPG membrane. In particular, we successfully demonstrated monodisperse ATPS droplets with diameters of approximately 10 μm under a certain condition.
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Tea L, Nicolai T, Renou F. Stabilization of Water-In-Water Emulsions by Linear Homo-Polyelectrolytes. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:9029-9036. [PMID: 31192605 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b01604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The effect of adding a small quantity of linear polymers on the stability of water-in-water (W/W) emulsions was studied for emulsions of dextran-rich droplets in a continuous poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) phase (D/P) and vice versa (P/D). It was found that out of 16 different polymers that were tested, three had a significant effect: chitosan (Chit), diethyl aminoethyl dextran (DEAED), and propylene glycol alginate (PGA). In the presence of Chit or PGA, P/D emulsions were much less stable than D/P emulsions, but DEAED stabilized both types of emulsion. Interactions of these polymers with PEO or dextran were investigated with light scattering, and the microstructure of the emulsions was studied with confocal laser scanning microscopy. The effect of pH, polymer concentration, interfacial tension, and ionic strength on the stability was investigated and was found to be different for the three polymer types. The results suggest that stabilization of W/W emulsions by linear polymers requires that they contain both charged and hydrophobic units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingsam Tea
- Le Mans Université, IMMM UMR-CNRS 6283 , 72085 Le Mans Cedex 9 , France
| | - Taco Nicolai
- Le Mans Université, IMMM UMR-CNRS 6283 , 72085 Le Mans Cedex 9 , France
| | - Frederic Renou
- Le Mans Université, IMMM UMR-CNRS 6283 , 72085 Le Mans Cedex 9 , France
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Constantinou AP, Marie-Sainte U, Peng L, Carroll DR, McGilvery CM, Dunlop IE, Georgiou TK. Effect of block copolymer architecture and composition on gold nanoparticle fabrication. Polym Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/c9py00931k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) fabricated via the self-assembly of block copolymers of various architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna P. Constantinou
- Department of Materials
- Exhibition Road
- Royal School of Mines
- Imperial College London
- UK
| | - Uriel Marie-Sainte
- Department of Materials
- Exhibition Road
- Royal School of Mines
- Imperial College London
- UK
| | - Lihui Peng
- Department of Materials
- Exhibition Road
- Royal School of Mines
- Imperial College London
- UK
| | - Dean R. Carroll
- Department of Materials
- Exhibition Road
- Royal School of Mines
- Imperial College London
- UK
| | - Catriona M. McGilvery
- Department of Materials
- Exhibition Road
- Royal School of Mines
- Imperial College London
- UK
| | - Iain E. Dunlop
- Department of Materials
- Exhibition Road
- Royal School of Mines
- Imperial College London
- UK
| | - Theoni K. Georgiou
- Department of Materials
- Exhibition Road
- Royal School of Mines
- Imperial College London
- UK
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38
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Particle-based stabilization of water-in-water emulsions containing mixed biopolymers. Trends Food Sci Technol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Zhang J, Hwang J, Antonietti M, Schmidt BVKJ. Water-in-Water Pickering Emulsion Stabilized by Polydopamine Particles and Cross-Linking. Biomacromolecules 2018; 20:204-211. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jianrui Zhang
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max-Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jongkook Hwang
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max-Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Markus Antonietti
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max-Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Bernhard V. K. J. Schmidt
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max-Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
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Zheng C, Huang Z. Self-assembly and regulation of hydrophobic associating polyacrylamide with excellent solubility prepared by aqueous two-phase polymerization. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2018.07.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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41
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Douliez JP, Perro A, Chapel JP, Goudeau B, Béven L. Preparation of Template-Free Robust Yolk-Shell Gelled Particles from Controllably Evolved All-in-Water Emulsions. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2018; 14:e1803042. [PMID: 30203913 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201803042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A template-free all-aqueous bulk preparation of robust hollow capsules having a gelatin shell from all-in-water double emulsions is reported. The hot (>40 °C) quaternary system water/polyethylene glycol (PEG)/gelatin/alginate is shown to spontaneously form PEG-in-gelatin-in-PEG double water emulsion droplets having a multinuclear core. These droplets are stable upon cooling below the temperature at which gelatin gelled. In contrast, above the melting temperature of gelatin, multinuclear double emulsion droplets controllably evolve into stable mononuclear yolk (aqueous PEG)-shell (gelatin) capsules dispersed in the aqueous PEG continuous phase. It is demonstrated that the gelatin shell can accommodate negatively charged latex beads and be re-enforced by glutaraldehyde or silica. These capsules are also shown to encapsulate payloads, suggesting possible applications in microencapsulation, drug delivery, and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Paul Douliez
- UMR1332, Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, INRA, University of Bordeaux, Centre de Bordeaux, 33883, Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Adeline Perro
- University of Bordeaux, INP Bordeaux, ISM, UMR 5255, site ENSCBP, 16 av. Pey-Berland, 33607, Pessac, France
| | - Jean-Paul Chapel
- CNRS, University of Bordeaux, CRPP, 115 av. A. Schweitzer, 33600, Pessac, France
| | - Bertrand Goudeau
- University of Bordeaux, INP Bordeaux, ISM, UMR 5255, site ENSCBP, 16 av. Pey-Berland, 33607, Pessac, France
| | - Laure Béven
- UMR1332, Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, INRA, University of Bordeaux, Centre de Bordeaux, 33883, Villenave d'Ornon, France
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Constantinou AP, Sam-Soon NF, Carroll DR, Georgiou TK. Thermoresponsive Tetrablock Terpolymers: Effect of Architecture and Composition on Gelling Behavior. Macromolecules 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b01251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna P. Constantinou
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, Exhibition Road, SW7 2AZ London, U.K
| | - Neil F. Sam-Soon
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, Exhibition Road, SW7 2AZ London, U.K
| | - Dean R. Carroll
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, Exhibition Road, SW7 2AZ London, U.K
| | - Theoni K. Georgiou
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, Exhibition Road, SW7 2AZ London, U.K
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On the shear stability of water-in-water Pickering emulsions stabilized with silica nanoparticles. J Colloid Interface Sci 2018; 532:83-91. [PMID: 30077068 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.07.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Water-in-water (w/w) emulsions are known for their low interfacial tensions (IFT) which makes their stability to shear questionable. This is because of low particle attachment energies, which can be just a few kT. Therefore, emulsions stabilized with larger particles should display greater stability to shear because of larger attachment energies (10-100 or more kT). This is typically not an issue with traditional oil-in-water Pickering emulsions because particle attachment energies are much larger due to higher interfacial tensions, even when very small particles are used. EXPERIMENTS Silica nanoparticles were silanized with 2-(methoxy(polyethyleneoxy)6-9propyl)trimethoxysilane (PEG-silane) to aid in emulsion stabilization. The phase behavior of an aqueous, two-phase system consisting of 20,000 g mol-1 polyethylene glycol (PEG) and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) was characterized. Optical microscopy was used to characterize the static properties of the particle stabilized emulsions and shear rheology was used to study the stability of emulsions stabilized with 6 nm and 50 nm PEG-silane functionalized particles. RESULTS We demonstrated that silica nanoparticles silanized with PEG-silane can stabilize MgSO4 drops to produce MgSO4-in-PEG emulsions. We found emulsions stabilized with 6 wt% particles, regardless of particle size (6 nm or 50 nm), had similar viscosities, emulsion drop size, and were statically stable for one week. Emulsion drops stabilized with 6 wt% 50 nm particles doubled in size after 80 min of shear at 10 s-1 whereas those stabilized with 6 wt% 6 nm particles required only 25 min to double in size. We attribute these differences in doubling time to the larger particle attachment energies associated with the 50 nm particles.
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Inam M, Jones JR, Pérez-Madrigal MM, Arno MC, Dove AP, O’Reilly RK. Controlling the Size of Two-Dimensional Polymer Platelets for Water-in-Water Emulsifiers. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2018; 4:63-70. [PMID: 29392177 PMCID: PMC5785766 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.7b00436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
A wide range of biorelevant applications, particularly in pharmaceutical formulations and the food and cosmetic industries, require the stabilization of two water-soluble blended components which would otherwise form incompatible biphasic mixtures. Such water-in-water emulsions can be achieved using Pickering stabilization, where two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials are particularly effective due to their high surface area. However, control over the shape and size of the 2D nanomaterials is challenging, where it has not yet been possible to examine chemically identical nanostructures with the same thickness but different surface areas to probe the size-effect on emulsion stabilization ability. Hence, the rationale design and realization of the full potential of Pickering water-in-water emulsion stabilization have not yet been achieved. Herein, we report for the first time 2D poly(lactide) platelets with tunable sizes (with varying coronal chemistry) and of uniform shape using a crystallization-driven self-assembly methodology. We have used this series of nanostructures to explore the effect of 2D platelet size and chemistry on the stabilization of a water-in-water emulsion of a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/dextran mixture. We have demonstrated that cationic, zwitterionic, and neutral large platelets (ca. 3.7 × 106 nm2) all attain smaller droplet sizes and more stable emulsions than their respective smaller platelets (ca. 1.2 × 105 nm2). This series of 2D platelets of controlled dimensions provides an excellent exemplar system for the investigation of the effect of just the surface area on the potential effectiveness in a particular application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Inam
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph R. Jones
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Maria M. Pérez-Madrigal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Maria C. Arno
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew P. Dove
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel K. O’Reilly
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
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46
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Ganley WJ, Ryan PT, van Duijneveldt JS. Stabilisation of water-in-water emulsions by montmorillonite platelets. J Colloid Interface Sci 2017; 505:139-147. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2017.05.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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47
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Xue LH, Xie CY, Meng SX, Bai RX, Yang X, Wang Y, Wang S, Binks BP, Guo T, Meng T. Polymer-Protein Conjugate Particles with Biocatalytic Activity for Stabilization of Water-in-Water Emulsions. ACS Macro Lett 2017; 6:679-683. [PMID: 35650869 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.7b00294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Water-in-water (w/w) emulsions are attractive microcompartmentalized platforms due to their outstanding biocompatibility. To address the main disadvantage of poor stability that hampers their practical application, here we report a novel type of polymer-protein conjugate emulsifier obtained by Schiff base synthesis to stabilize w/w emulsions. In particular, the proposed mild approach benefits the modification of proteins of suitable size and wettability as particulate emulsifiers retaining their bioactivity. As demonstrated in a model system, the methoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG)-urease conjugate particles anchor at the w/w interfaces, where they serve as an effective emulsifier-combined-catalyst and catalyze the hydrolysis of urea in water to ammonium carbonate. Our study is unique in that it employs bioactive particles to stabilize w/w emulsions. Considering the characteristics of all-aqueous, compartmental and interfacial biocatalysis of the system, it will open up new possibilities in the life sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long-Hui Xue
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chun-Yan Xie
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shi-Xin Meng
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rui-Xue Bai
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin Yang
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaolei Wang
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shu Wang
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bernard P. Binks
- School
of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Ting Guo
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tao Meng
- School
of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People’s Republic of China
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Binks BP. Colloidal Particles at a Range of Fluid-Fluid Interfaces. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:6947-6963. [PMID: 28478672 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b00860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The study of solid particles residing at fluid-fluid interfaces has become an established area in surface and colloid science recently, experiencing a renaissance since around 2000. Particles at interfaces arise in many industrial products and processes such as antifoam formulations, crude oil emulsions, aerated foodstuffs, and flotation. Although they act in many ways like traditional surfactant molecules, they offer distinct advantages also, and the area is now multidisciplinary, involving research in the fundamental science and potential applications. In this Feature Article, the flavor of some of this interest is given on the basis of recent work from our own group and includes the behavior of particles at oil-water, air-water, oil-oil, air-oil, and water-water interfaces. The materials capable of being prepared by assembling various kinds of particles at fluid interfaces include particle-stabilized emulsions, particle-stabilized aqueous and oil foams, dry liquids, liquid marbles, and powdered emulsions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard P Binks
- School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Hull , Hull HU6 7RX, U.K
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Pir Cakmak F, Keating CD. Combining Catalytic Microparticles with Droplets Formed by Phase Coexistence: Adsorption and Activity of Natural Clays at the Aqueous/Aqueous Interface. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3215. [PMID: 28607355 PMCID: PMC5468296 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03033-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural clay particles have been hypothesized as catalysts on the early Earth, potentially facilitating the formation of early organic (bio) molecules. Association of clay particles with droplets formed by liquid-liquid phase separation could provide a physical mechanism for compartmentalization of inorganic catalysts in primitive protocells. Here we explore the distribution of natural clay mineral particles in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/dextran (Dx) aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS). We compared the three main types of natural clay: kaolinite, montmorillonite and illite, all of which are aluminosilicates of similar composition and surface charge. The three clay types differ in particle size, crystal structure, and their accumulation at the ATPS interface and ability to stabilize droplets against coalescence. Illite and kaolinite accumulated at the aqueous/aqueous interface, stabilizing droplets against coalescence but not preventing their eventual sedimentation due to the mass of adsorbed particles. The ability of each clay-containing ATPS to catalyze reaction of o-phenylenediamine with peroxide to form 2,3-diaminophenazone was evaluated. We observed modest rate increases for this reaction in the presence of clay-containing ATPS over clay in buffer alone, with illite outperforming the other clays. These findings are encouraging because they support the potential of combining catalytic mineral particles with aqueous microcompartments to form primitive microreactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Pir Cakmak
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA
| | - Christine D Keating
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA.
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