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Journal article

Multi-compartment encapsulation of communicating droplets and droplet networks in hydrogel as a model for artificial cells.

Abstract:
Constructing a cell mimic is a major challenge posed by synthetic biologists. Efforts to this end have been primarily focused on lipid- and polymer-encapsulated containers, liposomes and polymersomes, respectively. Here, we introduce a multi-compartment, nested system comprising aqueous droplets stabilized in an oil/lipid mixture, all encapsulated in hydrogel. Functional capabilities (electrical and chemical communication) were imparted by protein nanopores spanning the lipid bilayer formed at the interface of the encapsulated aqueous droplets and the encasing hydrogel. Crucially, the compartmentalization enabled the formation of two adjoining lipid bilayers in a controlled manner, a requirement for the realization of a functional protocell or prototissue.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/srep45167

Authors


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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Chemistry
Sub department:
Chemical Biology
Role:
Author


Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group
Journal:
Scientific Reports More from this journal
Volume:
7
Pages:
45167
Publication date:
2017-04-01
Acceptance date:
2017-02-20
DOI:
EISSN:
2045-2322
Pmid:
28367984


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:688755
UUID:
uuid:7b2f4253-a5c7-462e-ba9d-3d337ddc5180
Local pid:
pubs:688755
Source identifiers:
688755
Deposit date:
2017-10-19

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