Multicompartmental Microcapsules for Enzymatic Cascade Reactions Prepared through Gas Shearing and Surface Gelation

Abstract

Inspired by the structure of eukaryotic cells, multicompartmental microcapsules have gained increasing attention. However, challenges remain in the fabrication of "all-aqueous" (i.e., oil-free) microcapsules composed of accurately adjustable hierarchical compartments. This study reports on multicompartmental microcapsules with an innovative architecture. While multicompartmental cores of the microcapsules were fabricated through gas shearing, a shell was applied on the cores through surface gelation of alginate. Different from traditional multicompartmental microcapsules, thus obtained microcapsules have well-segregated compartments while the universal nature of the surface-gelation method allows us to finely tune the shell thicknesses of the microcapsules. The microcapsules are highly stable and cytocompatible and allow repeated enzymatic cascade reactions, which might make them of interest for complex biocatalysis or for mimicking physiological processes.

Ultrafine Pd Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Mesoporous TiO2 Region Selectively Confined in Bamboo Microchannels: An Ultrastable Continuous‐Flow Catalytic Hydrogenation Microreactor

“…Therefore, it is necessary to develop novel strategies to improve the stability of biomass‐based catalytic microreactors, such as delignification pretreatment, coating polymers materials on the microchannel walls, or developing multicompartmental protective structures. [ 58–62 ]…”

“…Therefore, it is necessary to develop novel strategies to improve the stability of biomass-based catalytic microreactors, such as delignification pretreatment, coating polymers materials on the microchannel walls, or developing multicompartmental protective structures. [58][59][60][61][62] Intermittent Operating Conditions: Intermittent operation is also important for catalyst lifetime and stability. [63] Catalytic hydrogenation was studied under intermittent operation conditions; 12 h on, followed by four cycles of 12 h off and 12 h on.…”

Surpassing Substrate–Enzyme Competition by Compartmentalization

“…Inspired by nature, enzyme compartmentalization has been applied in different fields such as in synthetic biology or biotechnology to reconstruct complex enzyme systems for academic or industrial purposes. − It is achieved by enzyme immobilization, macromolecular crowding, coacervation, and semipermeable vesicle entrapment, both in nature and in synthetic systems. − To date, the most developed multienzyme systems include vesicles of different compositions (i.e., liposomes, polymeric capsules, and colloidosomes) that mimic the organelles . They are often organized in hierarchical architectures forming vesicle-in-vesicle structures or complex 3D networks, with membranes capable of isolating enzymatic reactions while controlling substrate exchange. , Material scientists can finely design these architectures by controlling their micro- and nanostructures.…”

“…20,21 Beyond the multienzyme systems already reported (typically the peroxidase/glucose oxidase system), new challenges are posed to bring cell-free enzyme systems closer to the complexity of cell biology. 8,12,16 Among other issues, we must forestall the enzyme competition for the same substrate that cell-free biosynthetic cascades often experience. 22 This enzyme competition becomes a hurdle in applied biocatalysis because substrates can be depleted to off-target products.…”

Physically and Chemically Compartmentalized Polymersomes for Programmed Delivery and Biological Applications

“…According to the structure and chemical composition of MCPs, the types of compartmentalization can be divided into physical, chemical and hybrid compartmentalization. − Among them, the structural characteristic of the physical compartmentalization is mainly incarnated in the partition of the physical space of the internal cavity . For example, Uchegbu and co-workers developed a polymersome-in-polymersome system for drug delivery.…”