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- Title
Tuning interfacial fluidity and colloidal stability of membranized coacervate protocells.
- Authors
Ji, Yanglimin; Qiao, Yan
- Abstract
The cell membrane not only serves as the boundary between the cell's interior and the external environment but also plays a crucial role in regulating fundamental cellular behaviours. Interfacial membranization of membraneless coacervates, formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), represents a reliable approach to constructing hierarchical cell-like entities known as protocells. In this study, we demonstrate the capability to modulate the interfacial membrane fluidity and thickness of dextran-bound coacervate protocells by adjusting the molecular weight of dextran or utilizing dextranase-catalyzed hydrolysis. This modulation allows for rational control over colloidal stability, interfacial molecular transport and cell-protocell interactions. Our work opens a new avenue for surface engineering of coacervate protocells, enabling the establishment of cell-mimicking structures and behaviours. Membranization of coacervate microdroplets can stabilize coacervates and enable the construction of hierarchical protocells by using various interfacial layers. Here, the authors demonstrate the modulation of interfacial membrane fluidity and thickness of dextran-bound coacervate protocells by adjusting the molecular weight of dextran or through enzymatic hydrolysis, achieving control over colloidal stability, interfacial molecular transport and cell-protocell interactions.
- Subjects
COLLOIDAL stability; MOLECULAR weights; PHASE separation; MICRODROPLETS; DEXTRAN; COMPOSITE membranes (Chemistry)
- Publication
Communications Chemistry, 2024, Vol 7, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2399-3669
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s42004-024-01193-4