DNA‐Based Assembly of Multi‐Compartment Polymersome Networks

Abstract

Polymersomes exhibit increased stability and reduced permeability compared to conventional lipid-based compartments-making them an increasingly popular choice for the bottom-up construction of synthetic cells. Here, the contraction and expansion of functionalized polymersome networks controlled by cholesterol-tagged deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is demonstrated. Different types of block-copolymer membranes are systematically screened to design a general framework for the self-assembly of cholesterol-tagged DNA into the polymersome membrane. Since the developed approach is DNA-based, the individual symmetric and asymmetric functionalization of the inner and outer polymersome leaflets is possible, a feature which makes it unique in terms of anchoring flexibility and efficiency. In addition to the variety with regard to functionalization, the choice of DNA and temperature can also be used to manipulate the polymersome contact line and the polymersome bending energy. Overall, the strategy potentially allows for the unprecedented possibility to precisely control the contraction and expansion of polymersome network assembly.

Microfluidics for Drug Development: From Synthesis to Evaluation

“…106 The designed devices were fabricated by printing with filament orientations at different angles (0°, 30°, 60°, and 90°) with respect to the flow direction. Specifically, the devices printed with the 60°orientation demonstrated fast PTFE/Teflon, 228,241,243 polyimide, 229,230 PFA, 236,237,242 poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), 239 polyethylene (PE), 239 308−311 PLGA, 312 poly(glycerol-co-sebacic-acid) (PGS), 313 ethyl cellulose, 314 PMMA, 315 PDMS, 317 345,346,348,357,361,365,372,373,[377][378][379][380][381][382]386,389,390,396,397 3D fluid channel; manual operation; high flexibility drug evaluation microfluidic singlecell platform PDMS−glass, 407 PDMS 408−411,414−416 better understanding of cell heterogeneity microfluidic cell spheroid platform PDMS 424,425,428−434 3D cell culture; recapitulation of cell−cell interactions; reconstruction of functions of collective cells single-organ-on-achip platform PDMS, 445,463,512,514,515,518,…”

“…In terms of this, some special polymersomes were developed, such as DNA-functionalized polymersomes, synthosomes, etc. , …”

Current Perspectives on Synthetic Compartments for Biomedical Applications

“…A flow of outer aqueous solution then pinches off the double emulsion droplets. Double emulsions can be created with a multitude of different microfluidic designs, such as glass capillaries [ 36 , 37 ] or molded microchannels in varying layouts [ 38 , 39 , 40 ]. Subsequent evaporation of the volatile organic solvent leads to the formation of a GUV with a polymer membrane.…”

“…Among the most effective pairs of molecules involved in molecular recognition are biotin–streptavidin proteins [ 118 , 123 , 124 ] and nucleic acid hybridization [ 118 ]. A highly specific conjugation method was mediated by oligonucleotide sequences such as single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) [ 37 , 118 ]. In detail, azide-exposing PMOXA- b -PDMS polymersomes enabled coupling of dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO)-derivatized ssDNA or its complementary oligonucleotide.…”

“…The functionalization of GUVs with cholesterol-tagged DNA mediated the linkage of the vesicles and resulted in deformation at the adhesion site. The thermal regulation of the DNA hybridization allowed the linkage that controlled the contact area between the GUVs to be switched on and off [ 37 ].…”