Engineering Polymersome Protocells

Overview

Journal J Phys Chem Lett

Publisher American Chemical Society

Specialty Chemistry

Date 2011 Nov 24

PMID 22110844

Citations 26

Authors

Neha P Kamat

Joshua S Katz

Daniel A Hammer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The field of biomimicry is embracing the construction of complex assemblies that imitate both biological structure and function. Advancements in the design of these mimetics have generated a growing vision for creating an artificial or proto- cell. Polymersomes are vesicles that can be made from synthetic, biological or hybrid polymers and can be used as a model template to build cell-like structures. In this perspective, we discuss various areas where polymersomes have been used to mimic cell functions as well as areas in which the synthetic flexibility of polymersomes would make them ideal candidates for a biomembrane mimetic. Designing a polymersome that comprehensively displays the behaviors discussed herein has the potential to lead to the development of an autonomous, responsive particle that resembles the intelligence of a biological cell.

Citing Articles

A microfluidic platform for the synthesis of polymer and polymer-protein-based protocells.

OCallaghan J, Kamat N, Vargo K, Chattaraj R, Lee D, Hammer D Eur Phys J E Soft Matter. 2024; 47(6):37.

PMID: 38829453 PMC: 11147907. DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-024-00428-5.

Building Synthetic Cells─From the Technology Infrastructure to Cellular Entities.

Rothschild L, Averesch N, Strychalski E, Moser F, Glass J, Cruz Perez R ACS Synth Biol. 2024; 13(4):974-997.

PMID: 38530077 PMC: 11037263. DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00724.

Compartmentalized Cell-Free Expression Systems for Building Synthetic Cells.

Gonzales D, Suraritdechachai S, Tang T Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol. 2023; 186:77-101.

PMID: 37306700 DOI: 10.1007/10_2023_221.

Artificial Organelles with Digesting Characteristics: Imitating Simplified Lysosome- and Macrophage-Like Functions by Trypsin-Loaded Polymersomes.

Xu X, Moreno S, Boye S, Wang P, Voit B, Appelhans D Adv Sci (Weinh). 2023; 10(17):e2207214.

PMID: 37076948 PMC: 10265080. DOI: 10.1002/advs.202207214.

pH-dependent water permeability switching and its memory in MoS membranes.

Hu C, Achari A, Rowe P, Xiao H, Suran S, Li Z Nature. 2023; 616(7958):719-723.

PMID: 37076621 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05849-4.

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