Interfacial Polymerization Fabricated Polydopamine Capsules as a Step Toward a Photothermal Protocell Model

Advanced Functional Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 25, 2024

Abstract Photothermal is a significant solar energy conversion process on Earth, and photothermal‐responsive protocells are potential model for prebiotic chemistry. Here, polydopamine microcapsules fabricated via emulsion droplets‐templated interfacial polymerization investigated their as synthetic protocell models photothermal utilization. DNAzyme‐mediated dopamine peroxidation occur at the water/oil interface of droplets, facilitated by biphasic microfluidic technique, leading to formation uniform microcapsules, which retain structural integrity upon transfer into continuous water phase. These exhibit size‐dependent semi‐permeability high capability due broad spectral absorbance. The photothermal‐mediated temperature rise within triggers DNA denaturation rearrangement, intermittent irradiation modulates reversible phase separation condensates, mimicking membrane‐less organelles. This work suggests that capsules plausible can demonstrate aspects primitive abiotic cellularity.

Language: Английский

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The Sentient Cell

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 5, 2023

Abstract This volume is the natural follow-up to Arthur Reber’s 2019 book, The First Minds: Caterpillars, ‘Karyotes, and Consciousness (TFM). In that earlier work, Cellular Basis of (CBC) theory was developed based on a number efforts published in variety journals between 1997 as well talks, colloquia, presentations at conferences. core proposition TFM life mind are co-terminous. All organisms, all species extant extinct, sentient. have an existentially secure consciousness—without which they would been evolutionary dead-ends, unable survive chaotic, dangerous environment first appeared. And, importantly, forms sentience, cognitive functioning right up including those expressed by humans, evolved from original expression consciousness birth prokaryotes. unicellular widely accepted, foundational principle biological social sciences. CBC simply applies same sentience.

Language: Английский

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Dynamics of giant vesicle assembly from thin lipid films

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 661, P. 1033 - 1045

Published: Feb. 5, 2024

Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), cell-like synthetic micrometer size structures, assemble when thin lipid films are hydrated in aqueous solutions. Quantitative measurements of static yields and distribution sizes GUVs obtained from film hydration methods were recently reported. Dynamic data such as the time evolution sizes, however, is not known. can provide insights into assembly pathway guidelines for choosing conditions to obtain populations with desired distributions. We develop 'stopped-time' technique characterize molar free-floating GUVs. additionally capture high resolution time-lapse images surface-attached GUV buds on films. systematically study dynamics three widely used methods, PAPYRUS (Paper-Abetted amPhiphile hYdRation aqUeous Solutions), gentle hydration, electroformation. find that yield versus curves demonstrate a characteristic sigmoidal shape, an initial yield, transient, then steady state plateau all methods. The population showed right-skewed diameters. variance distributions increased time. systems reached within 120 min. rationalize using thermodynamically motivated budding merging (BNM) model. These results further understanding first-time practical parameters tailor production specific applications.

Language: Английский

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Higher‐Order Behaviours in Bio‐Inspired Materials

ChemSystemsChem, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6(4)

Published: April 16, 2024

Abstract Bio‐inspired approaches in materials science and systems chemistry are yielding a variety of stimuli‐responsive dynamic that gradually changing our everyday life. However, the ability to chemically program these exhibit macroscopic higher‐order behaviours such as self‐assembly, contractility, swarming, taxis, chemical communication, or predator‐prey dynamics remains an ongoing challenge. While still its infancy, successful fabrication bio‐inspired displaying not only will help bridging gap between living non‐living matter, but it also contribute development advanced for potential applications ranging from tissue engineering biotechnology, soft robotics regenerative medicine. Our Mini‐Review systematically discuss developed thus far systems, namely (i) polymer networks (ii) microbots, (iii) protocells, (iv) prototissues. For each system provide key examples highlight how emergent behaviour could be programmed.

Language: Английский

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Shape Deformation, Budding and Division of Giant Vesicles and Artificial Cells: A Review

Life, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(6), P. 841 - 841

Published: June 6, 2022

The understanding of the shape-change dynamics leading to budding and division artificial cells has gained much attention in past few decades due an increased interest designing stimuli-responsive synthetic systems minimal models biological self-reproduction. In this respect, membranes their composition play a fundamental role many aspects related stability vesicles: permeability, elasticity, rigidity, tunability response external changes. review, we summarise recent experimental theoretical work dealing with shape deformation (giant) vesicles made phospholipids and/or fatty acids membranes. Following classic approach, divide strategies used destabilise into two different types, physical (osmotic stress, temperature light) chemical (addition amphiphiles, addition reactive molecules pH changes) even though they often act synergy when complete process. Finally, review most important methods employed describe equilibrium shapes giant how provide ways explain control morphological changes from one structure another.

Language: Английский

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Reactive Brownian Dynamics of Chemically Fueled Droplets: Roles of Attraction and Deactivation Modes

The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 129(2), P. 626 - 636

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

The self-assembly of biological membraneless organelles can be mimicked by active droplets resulting from chemically fueled microphase separation. However, how the nonequilibrium, transient structure these controlled through physicochemical input parameters is not yet well understood. In our work, a two-state chemical reaction and subsequent droplet growth decay are modeled with reactive Brownian dynamics simulation in two spatial dimensions. model, particles that activated via consumption fuel become attractive accumulate into droplets. A local-density-dependent distinction droplet's 'internal' 'external' allows for structural feedback giving further control over deactivation process. shows only external slows down stabilizes droplets, whereas internal lead to temporary encapsulation deactivated (in nonequilibrium 'core–shell' structures) where serve as an outer shell. Additionally, role hydrophobicity resembled attraction energy ε dependency formation on various investigated. For example, high finite-size crystalline while other parameter choices indicate bimodal size distributions at specific times. Similarities differences related experiments discussed.

Language: Английский

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Origin of Complex Biomolecules on the Dawn of Lifeforms

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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From nanometric to giant polyion complex micelles via a hierarchical assembly of dendrimers

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 687, P. 293 - 302

Published: Feb. 13, 2025

Language: Английский

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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

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Role of Electron Spin, Chirality, and Charge Dynamics in Promoting the Persistence of Nascent Nucleic Acid–Peptide Complexes

The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 15, 2025

Primitive nucleic acids and peptides likely collaborated in early biochemistry. What forces drove their interactions how did these shape the properties of primitive complexes? We investigated two model primordial polypeptides associate with DNA. When were coupled to a ferromagnetic substrate, DNA binding depended on substrate's magnetic moment orientation. Reversing field nearly abolished despite complementary charges. Inverting peptide chirality or just cysteine residue reversed this effect. These results are attributed chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect, where molecular electron alter protein's electric polarizability. The presence CISS simple protein-DNA complexes suggests that it played significant role ancient biomolecular interactions. A major consequence is enhancement kinetic stability protein-nucleic acid complexes. findings reveal influence bioassociation, offering insights into biochemical evolution shaping contemporary protein functions.

Language: Английский

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