Chemically Triggered Reactive Coacervates Show Life-Like Budding and Membrane Formation

Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 28, 2025

Phase-separated coacervates can enhance reaction kinetics and guide multilevel self-assembly, mimicking early cellular evolution. In this work, we introduce "reactive" complex that undergo chemically triggered self-immolative transformations, directing the self-assembly of products within their matrix. These self-assemblies then evolve to show life-like properties such as budding membrane formation. We find coacervate composition critically influences rates product distribution guides hierarchical self-assembly. This work showcases a versatile platform influence pathways for controlled supramolecular synthesis self-organization in confined spaces.

Language: Английский

---

Spontaneous Hollow Coacervate Transition of Silk Fibroin via Dilution and Its Transition to Microcapsules

Biomacromolecules, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 10, 2025

Polymeric microcapsules are useful for drug delivery, microreactors, and cargo transport, but traditional fabrication methods require complex processes harsh conditions. Coacervates, formed by liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), offer a promising alternative microcapsule fabrication. Recent studies have shown that coacervates can spontaneously form hollow cavities under specific Here, we investigate the spontaneous coacervate transition of silk fibroin (SF). SF coacervates, induced mixing with dextran, calcium ions, copper to upon dilution. Adding ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) further transforms them into vesicle-like capsule which solidify microcapsules. As proof-of-concept, successfully loaded high-molecular-weight polymer cavity bioactive enzyme layer simply solution. Our results demonstrate facile, organic-solvent-free approach fabricating SF-based provide insight mechanisms driving formation.

Language: Английский

---

Biomineralization‐Inspired Membranization Toward Structural Enhancement of Coacervate Community

Advanced Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 16, 2025

Abstract The design and assembly of protocell models that can mimic the features functions life present a significant research challenge with potential for far‐reaching impact. Inspired by natural phenomenon microbe‐induced mineralization, way is developed to induce spontaneous formation mineralized membrane on surface coacervate droplets utilizing Fe 3+ ions. In particular, effect ions microstructure at molecular level dissected combining theoretical experimental approaches. reversible process be regulated redox reactions involving 2+ /Fe within coacervate. not only enhances stability prevents aggregation coalescence, but also allows adjacent together. membranized assemblages retain inherent properties biomolecule sequestration enzyme catalysis, demonstrate excellent resistance high temperatures pressures as well good over 30 days. This study will offer new platform coacervate‐based life‐like biomimetic systems, enhance understanding interactions underlying various biological phenomena level.

Language: Английский

---

Dynamic and Diverse Coacervate Architectures by Controlled Demembranization

Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 26, 2025

The dynamics of membranes are integral to regulating biological pathways in living systems, particularly mediating intra- and extracellular communication between membraneless membranized nano- microcompartments. Mimicking these using biomimetic cell structures deepens our understanding biologically driven processes, including morphological transformations, communication, molecular sequestration within distinct environments (e.g., (membraneless) organelles, cytoplasm, cells, the matrix). In this context, demembranization coacervates represents a promising approach endow them with additional functionalities dynamic reconfiguration capabilities response external or stimuli. This versatility broadens their applicability synthetic biology, systems biotechnology. Here, we present strategy for controlled coacervate droplets. created by coating terpolymer-based nanoparticles form solid-like membrane. addition an anionic polysaccharide then triggers process arising from electrostatic competition membrane components, resulting polysaccharide-containing demembranized membranization/demembranization not only allows structural entities but also varies permeability toward (biological) (macro)molecules microscale objects. Additionally, integrating polymersome layer facilitates creation bilayer ″Janus-like″ coacervates, advancing development protocells hierarchical asymmetric structures. Our work highlights control over both membranization processes protocells, establishing platform creating advanced protein-containing diverse (membrane(less)) architectures.

Language: Английский

---

Liquid-to-gel transitions of phase-separated coacervate microdroplets enabled by endogenous enzymatic catalysis

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 137486 - 137486

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Salt-Bridge-Mediated Coacervate-to-Vesicle Transformation in Arginine-Rich Coacervates

ACS Nano, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 22, 2025

Polypeptide-based liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) has received considerable attention as it governs the formation of membraneless organelles in cells. However, detailed mechanistic understanding how one most prevalent cationic amino acids proteins, arginine, interacts with various biomolecules to induce and undergo morphogenesis remains be resolved. Herein, we report behavior transformation arginine-rich coacervates into vesicular structures upon introducing polyphosphates. Transformation vesicles was shown occur independent initial anionic counterparts driven by salt-bridge interactions between guanidinium groups arginine residues phosphates. We also investigate role intermolecular forces ionic effects on morphological further exploit their potential assembly artificial tissue-like constructs. Overall, our findings underpin a unifying principle for vesicle from potency reconstituting hierarchical biological microcompartments.

Language: Английский

---

Peptide nanoarchitectonics beyond long-range ordering

Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 343, P. 103556 - 103556

Published: May 10, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Active Armoring of Protocell Condensates with Metal‐Phenolic Networks

Small, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 12, 2025

Abstract This study presents the use of metal‐phenolic networks (MPNs) for removable membranization peptide‐based condensates, providing a powerful strategy stabilizing and protecting condensates from chemically harmful agents. It is demonstrated that redox‐active properties MPNs allow controlled membrane formation disassembly, offering tunable regulation thickness permeability. Using ferric ion (Fe 3 ⁺) tannic acid, poly‐L‐lysine adenosine triphosphate are successfully coated with MPN membranes, which significantly enhances their structural stability resistance to fusion. Additionally, it observed when exposed Tris(2‐carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP), reducing agent, acts as sacrificial layer, preserving integrity encapsulated whereas non‐membranized dissolve. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals TCEP oxidized within MPN‐protected rendering non‐harmful. By adjusting through varying reagent concentrations, selective permeability achieved, demonstrating ability membranes mimic key features biological membranes. These results highlight potential developing stable, functional protocell models protected external chemical threats, promising applications in synthetic biology prebiotic chemistry. work provides versatile platform controlling condensate behavior improving its utility various scientific applications.

Language: Английский

---

Fluidic Membrane-Bound Protocells Enabling Versatile Assembly of Functional Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications

ACS Nano, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 30, 2024

The development of membrane-bound protocells, which process cascade biochemical reactions in distinct microcompartments, marks a significant advancement soft systems. However, many synthesized protocells with cell membrane-like structures are prone to rupturing biological environments and challenging functionalize, limiting their biomedical applications. In this study, we explore the liquid-liquid phase separation tannic acid (TA) polyethylene glycol (PEG) form coacervate droplets. Upon introducing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) molecules, dense hydrogen bonding network spontaneously forms at surfaces droplets, resulting robust fluidic (FMPs). These can be flexibly postfunctionalized incorporate functional nanomaterials via electrostatic attraction, enabling design for To demonstrate this, nanozymes (Pt/CeO

Language: Английский

---

Coacervation for biomedical applications: innovations involving nucleic acids

Soft Matter, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 6, 2024

Coacervation emerges as a cutting-edge approach to enhance drug delivery, vaccines, and other therapeutics offer potential improvements in their efficacy. Figure created BioRender. Mirlohi, K. (2024) https://BioRender.com/c81q692.

Language: Английский

---