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Lu T, Javed S, Bonfio C, Spruijt E. Interfacing Coacervates with Membranes: From Artificial Organelles and Hybrid Protocells to Intracellular Delivery. Small Methods 2023; 7:e2300294. [PMID: 37354057 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Compartmentalization is crucial for the functioning of cells. Membranes enclose and protect the cell, regulate the transport of molecules entering and exiting the cell, and organize cellular machinery in subcompartments. In addition, membraneless condensates, or coacervates, offer dynamic compartments that act as biomolecular storage centers, organizational hubs, or reaction crucibles. Emerging evidence shows that phase-separated membraneless bodies in the cell are involved in a wide range of functional interactions with cellular membranes, leading to transmembrane signaling, membrane remodeling, intracellular transport, and vesicle formation. Such functional and dynamic interplay between phase-separated droplets and membranes also offers many potential benefits to artificial cells, as shown by recent studies involving coacervates and liposomes. Depending on the relative sizes and interaction strength between coacervates and membranes, coacervates can serve as artificial membraneless organelles inside liposomes, as templates for membrane assembly and hybrid artificial cell formation, as membrane remodelers for tubulation and possibly division, and finally, as cargo containers for transport and delivery of biomolecules across membranes by endocytosis or direct membrane crossing. Here, recent experimental examples of each of these functions are reviewed and the underlying physicochemical principles and possible future applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiemei Lu
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Sadaf Javed
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia Bonfio
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), CNRS UMR 7006, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, 67083, France
| | - Evan Spruijt
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
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Li Q, Song Q, Guo W, Cao Y, Cui X, Chen D, Shum HC. Synthetic Membraneless Droplets for Synaptic-Like Clustering of Lipid Vesicles. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202313096. [PMID: 37728515 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202313096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, the membraneless organelles (MLOs) formed via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) are found to interact intimately with membranous organelles (MOs). One major mode is the clustering of MOs by MLOs, such as the formation of clusters of synaptic vesicles at nerve terminals mediated by the synapsin-rich MLOs. Aqueous droplets, including complex coacervates and aqueous two-phase systems, have been plausible MLO-mimics to emulate or elucidate biological processes. However, neither of them can cluster lipid vesicles (LVs) like MLOs. In this work, we develop a synthetic droplet assembled from a combination of two different interactions underlying the formation of these two droplets, namely, associative and segregative interactions, which we call segregative-associative (SA) droplets. The SA droplets cluster and disperse LVs recapitulating the key functional features of synapsin condensates, which can be attributed to the weak electrostatic interaction environment provided by SA droplets. This work suggests LLPS with combined segregative and associative interactions as a possible route for synaptic clustering of lipid vesicles and highlights SA droplets as plausible MLO-mimics and models for studying and mimicking related cellular dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingchuan Li
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, Shandong University, 27 Shanda Nanlu, Jinan, Shandong, P.R.China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong (SAR), Hong Kong, China
| | - Qingchun Song
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wei Guo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong (SAR), Hong Kong, China
| | - Yang Cao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xinyu Cui
- Department of Public Health, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, 157000, P. R. China
| | - Dairong Chen
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Colloidal Materials, Shandong University, 27 Shanda Nanlu, Jinan, Shandong, P.R.China
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong (SAR), Hong Kong, China
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Di Y, Wang W, Wang Y, Wang J. Recent engineering advances of EVs for compounds, nucleic acids, and TCM delivery. Eur J Pharm Sci 2023; 190:106584. [PMID: 37717667 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are phospholipid bilayer nano-vesicles that were originally identified to deliver signals for intercellular communications. Based on the dynamic contents including proteins, nucleic acids and metabolites, EVs have been developed into diagnostic and therapeutic fields including cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders and infectious diseases. A growing number of investigations revealed that EVs are also powerful carriers of loaded compounds and nucleic acids as enhanced treatments. Herein, we summarized the recent engineering advances related to three major issues when applying EVs in drug delivery systems: EVs isolation, drug loading strategies and targeting delivery approaches. Moreover, current applications of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), in composition or compound form, are searched and listed as unique combinations with EVs. Further, we discuss emerging challenges and consider future directions of drug-loading EVs in therapeutic opportunities. This review discusses pros and cons of collecting, drug loading and delivery strategies of EVs as delivery systems, and highlights the promising combination with traditional Chinese medicine to help us advance its clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfeng Di
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of TCM Syndrome and Formula, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yong Wang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of TCM Syndrome and Formula, Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Jingyu Wang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
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Lu T, Hu X, van Haren MHI, Spruijt E, Huck WTS. Structure-Property Relationships Governing Membrane-Penetrating Behaviour of Complex Coacervates. Small 2023; 19:e2303138. [PMID: 37218010 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202303138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Complex coacervates are phase-separated liquid droplets composed of oppositely charged multivalent molecules. The unique material properties of the complex coacervate interior favours the sequestration of biomolecules and facilitates reactions. Recently, it is shown that coacervates can be used for direct cytosolic delivery of sequestered biomolecules in living cells. Here, it is studied that the physical properties required for complex coacervates composed of oligo-arginine and RNA to cross phospholipid bilayers and enter liposomes penetration depends on two main parameters: the difference in ζ-potential between the complex coacervates and the liposomes, and the partitioning coefficient (Kp ) of lipids into the complex coacervates. Following these guidelines, a range of complex coacervates is found that is able to penetrate the membrane of living cells, thus paving the way for further development of coacervates as delivery vehicles of therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiemei Lu
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, the Netherlands
| | - Xinyu Hu
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, the Netherlands
| | - Merlijn H I van Haren
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, the Netherlands
| | - Evan Spruijt
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, the Netherlands
| | - Wilhelm T S Huck
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, the Netherlands
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Normak K, Papp M, Ullmann M, Paganini C, Manno M, Bongiovanni A, Bergese P, Arosio P. Multiparametric Orthogonal Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles by Liquid Chromatography Combined with In-Line Light Scattering and Fluorescence Detection. Anal Chem 2023; 95:12443-12451. [PMID: 37556360 PMCID: PMC10448444 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed biological nanoparticles with potential as diagnostic markers and carriers for therapeutics. Characterization of EVs poses severe challenges due to their complex structure and composition, requiring the combination of orthogonal analytical techniques. Here, we demonstrate how liquid chromatography combined with multi-angle light scattering (MALS) and fluorescence detection in one single apparatus can provide multiparametric characterization of EV samples, including concentration of particles, average diameter of the particles, protein amount to particle number ratio, presence of EV surface markers and lipids, EV shape, and sample purity. The method requires a small amount of sample of approximately 107 EVs, limited handling of the sample and data analysis time in the order of minutes; it is fully automatable and can be applied to both crude and purified samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl Normak
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Marcell Papp
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Michael Ullmann
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Carolina Paganini
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Mauro Manno
- Institute
of Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, Via Ugo la Malfa 153, Palermo 90146, Italy
| | - Antonella Bongiovanni
- Institute
for Research and Biomedical Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council
of Italy, Via Ugo La
Malfa 153, Palermo 90146, Italy
| | - Paolo Bergese
- Department
of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia 25123, Italy
- Center
for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI), Florence 50019, Italy
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
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Paganini C, Boyce H, Libort G, Arosio P. High-Yield Production of Extracellular Vesicle Subpopulations with Constant Quality Using Batch-Refeed Cultures. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202232. [PMID: 36479632 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The conventional manufacturing of extracellular vesicles (EVs) is characterized by low yields and batch-to-batch variability, hampering fundamental research on EVs and their practical applications. Perfusion operations have huge potential to address these limitations and increase the productivity and quality of EVs. In this study, perfusion cultures are simulated with batch-refeed systems and their productivity is compared with that achieved using batch cultures. It is shown that a shift from batch to batch-refeed system can increase the space-time yields of a target EV subpopulation characterized by CD81 and CD63 biomarkers by threefold. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the method facilitates the consistent production of the target EVs from cells maintained under constant conditions for 13 days. These results indicate that the use of perfusion cultures is a promising strategy to increase the manufacturing yield of EVs and control the production of specific EV subpopulations with constant quality attributes, thereby improving reproducibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Paganini
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Hannah Boyce
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Gabriela Libort
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
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