Lipid vesicle-based molecular robots

Abstract

A molecular robot, which is a system comprised of one or more molecular machines and computers, can execute sophisticated tasks in many fields that span from nanomedicine to green nanotechnology.

Synthetic DNA nanopores for direct molecular transmission between lipid vesicles

“…Transmitting molecular signals among vesicles or with living cells is a key function for lipid vesicle-based systems. 5 Due to the selective permeability of lipid bilayers, small hydrophobic molecules can migrate freely across the lipid bilayers, whereas the movement of hydrophilic or large molecules is hindered. Nanopores are one of the regulators for molecular transmission across lipid bilayers, and their use in synthetic lipid vesicles have been put forward for decades.…”

Switchable and orthogonal gene expression control inside artificial cells by synthetic riboswitches

“…Artificial cells encapsulating a cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system 1 are a versatile platform used in various fields, such as bioreactor development, 2 biosensing, 3 directed evolution of proteins, 4 origin of life studies, 5 and the construction of therapeutic molecular robots. 6 Temporal control over gene expression offers a key technology in further imparting artificial cells with desired phenotypes and functions. Transcriptional regulation is the most popular mechanism to control gene expression inside artificial cells, 7 (and also in vivo ), which is regulated by chemical and/or physical external stimuli.…”