A modular approach for multifunctional polymersomes with controlled adhesive properties

Abstract

The bottom-up approach in synthetic biology involves the engineering of synthetic cells by designing biological and chemical building blocks, which can be combined in order to mimic cellular functions. The first step for mimicking a living cell is the design of an appropriate compartment featuring a multifunctional membrane. This is of particular interest since it allows for the selective attachment of different groups or molecules to the membrane. In this context, we report on a modular approach for polymeric vesicles, so-called polymersomes, with a multifunctional surface, namely hydroxyl, alkyne and acrylate groups. We demonstrate that the surface of the polymersome can be functionalized to facilitate imaging, via fluorescent dyes, or to improve the specific adhesion to surfaces by using a biotin functionalization. This generally applicable multifunctionality allows for the covalent integration of various molecules in the membrane of a synthetic cell.

Liposomes and polymersomes: a comparative review towards cell mimicking

“…25 Those methods also often require the use of additives such as surfactants (typically small molecules or block copolymers containing PEG), which get embedded in the membrane as also amphiphilic. [104][105][106] Solvent injection consists of slowly adding a solution of amphiphiles in organic solvent (most of the time ether or ethanol) to an aqueous medium under vigorous stirring (Fig. 9).…”

Micropipette force sensors for in vivo force measurements on single cells and multicellular microorganisms

“…Besides these efforts regarding living and even motile cells, we also investigated the adhesive properties of artificial cells. Recently, we employed the MFS technique to measure the adhesion of biotin-functionalized polymersomes, that is microcompartments composed of block-copolymers, featuring diameters in the range of several tens of micrometers, to neutravidin-functionalized glass substrates [66].…”

Dynamic force measurements on swimming Chlamydomonas cells using micropipette force sensors

“…In principle, forces can be measured simultaneously through the deflection of the micropipette. However, previous works utilizing such micropipette force sensors [30][31][32][33][34][35][36] were limited to quasistatic measurements. In this case the damping of the micropipette cantilever by hydrodynamic drag forces remains negligible, and forces can be directly recovered from the cantilever deflection and its static spring constant.…”