Spatial confinement toward creating artificial living systems

Shang, Luoran; Ye, Fangfu; Li, Ming; Zhao, Yuanjin

doi:10.1039/d1cs01025e

Cited by 26 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 203 publications

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“…The partitioning of molecules in the PEG- and dextran-rich phases is mainly determined by electrostatic, hydrophobic, and steric interactions. 44 In accordance to previous literature on the partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems comprised of PEG and dextran, 45 fluorescent molecules such as FITC selectively compartmentalized into the PEG-rich phases due to their lowered hydrophilicity as revealed by the respective fluorescence micrographs of the particles (Fig. 3b).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Multicompartment calcium alginate microreactors to reduce substrate inhibition in enzyme cascade reactions

Xi,

Frank,

Tatas

et al. 2023

Soft Matter

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Multicompartment calcium alginate microreactors to reduce substrate inhibition in enzyme cascade reactions

Xi,

Frank,

Tatas

et al. 2023

Soft Matter

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“…For all cells in living organisms, spatial confinement of a compartment ensures the stability of the intracellular environment, which is different from the surroundings, and this basic characteristic of life enables various biochemical reactions to occur successfully. [ 7 ] To facilitate complicated biochemical reactions that occur in an orderly manner in a molecularly crowded environment, living cells must generate organelles inside the compartment. Organelles are essential microcompartments with certain peculiar structural and functional aspects, and interior compartmentalization integrates the complex components and functions of living cells.…”

Section: Interior Compartmentalization Of Synthetic Cellmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More specifically, spatial confinement, which mediates and coordinates complicated biological reactions at the multiscale level, is a key factor in protocell generation and plays an important role in synthetic cell engineering. [7,8] Compartmentalization, which is the form of spatial confinement observed in living cells, defines the distinction and connection between living systems and nonliving surroundings. [9] Living cells rely on compartmentalization to separate a mass of biochemical reactions from their surroundings and provide a stable environment for various reactions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Synthetic‐Cell‐Based Multi‐Compartmentalized Hierarchical Systems

et al. 2023

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In the extant lifeforms, the self‐sustaining behaviors refer to various well‐organized biochemical reactions in spatial confinement, which rely on compartmentalization to integrate and coordinate the molecularly crowded intracellular environment and complicated reaction networks in living/synthetic cells. Therefore, the biological phenomenon of compartmentalization has become an essential theme in the field of synthetic cell engineering. Recent progress in the state‐of‐the‐art of synthetic cells has indicated that multi‐compartmentalized synthetic cells should be developed to obtain more advanced structures and functions. Herein, two ways of developing multi‐compartmentalized hierarchical systems, namely interior compartmentalization of synthetic cells (organelles) and integration of synthetic cell communities (synthetic tissues), are summarized. Examples are provided for different construction strategies employed in the above‐mentioned engineering ways, including spontaneous compartmentalization in vesicles, host–guest nesting, phase separation mediated multiphase, adhesion‐mediated assembly, programmed arrays, and 3D printing. Apart from exhibiting advanced structures and functions, synthetic cells are also applied as biomimetic materials. Finally, key challenges and future directions regarding the development of multi‐compartmentalized hierarchical systems are summarized; these are expected to lay the foundation for the creation of a “living” synthetic cell as well as provide a larger platform for developing new biomimetic materials in the future.

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“…It is particularly noteworthy that soft matter science is closely related to biomedicine. [ 2–4,5 ] On one hand, the components of life forms, including biomolecules, cells, and tissues, can be regarded as soft matter. Using physical models and experimental techniques to study the dynamic process of life activities would help to reveal the principles of life phenomena.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Liquid Crystal Materials for Biomedical Applications

et al. 2023

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Liquid crystal is a state of matter being intermediate between solid and liquid. Liquid crystal materials exhibit both orientational order and fluidity. While liquid crystals have long been highly recognized in the display industry, in recent decades, liquid crystals provide new opportunities into the cross‐field of material science and biomedicine due to their biocompatibility, multifunctionality, and responsiveness. In this review, the latest achievements of liquid crystal materials applied in biomedical fields are summarized. The start is made by introducing the basic concepts of liquid crystals, and then shifting to the components of liquid crystals as well as functional materials derived therefrom. After that, the ongoing and foreseeable applications of liquid crystal materials in the biomedical field with emphasis put on several cutting‐edge aspects, including drug delivery, bioimaging, tissue engineering, implantable devices, biosensing, and wearable devices are discussed. It is hoped that this review will stimulate ingenious ideas for the future generation of liquid crystal‐based drug development, artificial implants, disease diagnosis, health status monitoring, and beyond.

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Spatial confinement toward creating artificial living systems

Abstract: Spatial confinement is an important factor mediating both biological behaviors and artificial living systems. This review discusses spatial confinement as a design criterion for molecular reactors, artificial cells, tissue constructs, and organoids.

Cited by 26 publications

References 203 publications

Multicompartment calcium alginate microreactors to reduce substrate inhibition in enzyme cascade reactions

Multicompartment calcium alginate microreactors to reduce substrate inhibition in enzyme cascade reactions

Synthetic‐Cell‐Based Multi‐Compartmentalized Hierarchical Systems

Liquid Crystal Materials for Biomedical Applications

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