scholarly journals Building programmable multicompartment artificial cells incorporating remotely activated protein channels using microfluidics and acoustic levitation

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Li ◽  
William David Jamieson ◽  
Pantelitsa Dimitriou ◽  
Wen Xu ◽  
Paul Rohde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Mechanosensitive Channel ◽  
Acoustic Levitation ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Emulsion Droplets ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Spatiotemporal Regulation ◽  
Intracellular Compartments

Intracellular compartments are functional units that support the metabolic processes within living cells, through spatiotemporal regulation of chemical reactions and biological processes. Consequently, as a step forward in the bottom-up creation of artificial cells, building analogous intracellular architectures is essential for the expansion of cell-mimicking functionality. Herein, we report the development of a droplet laboratory platform to engineer customised complex emulsion droplets as a multicompartment artificial cell chassis, using multiphase microfluidics and acoustic levitation. Such levitated constructs provide free-standing, dynamic, definable droplet networks for the encapsulation and organisation of chemical species. Equally, they can be remotely operated with pneumatic, heating, and magnetic elements for post-processing, including the incorporation of membrane proteins; alpha-hemolysin; and large-conductance mechanosensitive channel (MscL) and their activation. The assembly of droplet networks is three-dimensionally patterned with fluidic inputs configurations determining droplet contents and connectivity. Whilst acoustic manipulation can be harnessed to reconfigure the droplet network in situ. In addition, a mechanosensitive channel, MscL, can be repeatedly activated and deactivated in the levitated artificial cell by the application of acoustic and magnetic fields to modulate membrane tension on demand. This offers possibilities beyond one-time chemically mediated activation to provide repeated, non-contact control of membrane protein function. Collectively, this will expand our capability to program and operate increasingly sophisticated artificial cells as life-like materials.

scholarly journals Artificial cell mimics as simplified models for the study of cell biology

2017 ◽  
Vol 242 (13) ◽  
pp. 1309-1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Salehi-Reyhani ◽  
Oscar Ces ◽  
Yuval Elani
Keyword(s):  
Cell Biology ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Simplified Models ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Biological Phenomena ◽  
Emerging Trends ◽  
Wide Range

Living cells are hugely complex chemical systems composed of a milieu of distinct chemical species (including DNA, proteins, lipids, and metabolites) interconnected with one another through a vast web of interactions: this complexity renders the study of cell biology in a quantitative and systematic manner a difficult task. There has been an increasing drive towards the utilization of artificial cells as cell mimics to alleviate this, a development that has been aided by recent advances in artificial cell construction. Cell mimics are simplified cell-like structures, composed from the bottom-up with precisely defined and tunable compositions. They allow specific facets of cell biology to be studied in isolation, in a simplified environment where control of variables can be achieved without interference from a living and responsive cell. This mini-review outlines the core principles of this approach and surveys recent key investigations that use cell mimics to address a wide range of biological questions. It will also place the field in the context of emerging trends, discuss the associated limitations, and outline future directions of the field. Impact statement Recent years have seen an increasing drive to construct cell mimics and use them as simplified experimental models to replicate and understand biological phenomena in a well-defined and controlled system. By summarizing the advances in this burgeoning field, and using case studies as a basis for discussion on the limitations and future directions of this approach, it is hoped that this minireview will spur others in the experimental biology community to use artificial cells as simplified models with which to probe biological systems.

scholarly journals Reconstitution of immune cell interactions in free-standing membranes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Jenkins ◽  
Ana Mafalda Santos ◽  
James H. Felce ◽  
Deborah Hatherley ◽  
Michael L. Dustin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synapse Formation ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Cell Interactions ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Immune Synapse ◽  
Signalling Molecules ◽  
Transient Nature ◽  
Spatiotemporal Regulation ◽  
Summary Statement

AbstractThe spatiotemporal regulation of signalling proteins at the contacts formed between immune cells and their targets determines how and when immune responses begin and end. It is important, therefore, to be able to elucidate molecular processes occurring at these interfaces. However, the detailed investigation of each component’s contribution to the formation and regulation of the contact is hampered by the complexity of cellular composition and architecture. Moreover, the transient nature of these interactions creates additional challenges, especially for using advanced imaging technology. One approach to circumventing these problems is to establish in vitro systems that faithfully mimic immune cell interactions, incorporating complexity that can be ‘dialled-in’ as needed. Here, we present an in vitro system making use of synthetic vesicles that mimic important aspects of immune cell surfaces. Using this system, we begin to investigate the spatial distribution of signalling molecules (receptors, kinases and phosphatases) and the intracellular rearrangements that accompany the initiation of signalling in T cells. The model system presented here is expected to be widely applicable.Summary StatementImmune cell-cell interactions are reconstituted in free-standing vesicles wherein spatiotemporal aspects of immune synapse formation can be investigated.

scholarly journals Self-Propulsion Strategies for Artificial Cell-Like Compartments

Nanomaterials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibon Santiago ◽  
Friedrich C. Simmel
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Biomedical Engineering ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Emulsion Droplet ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Droplet Motion ◽  
Active Particles ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Catalytically Active ◽  
A Current

Reconstitution of life-like properties in artificial cells is a current research frontier in synthetic biology. Mimicking metabolism, growth, and sensing are active areas of investigation; however, achieving motility and directional taxis are also challenging in the context of artificial cells. To tackle this problem, recent progress has been made that leverages the tools of active matter physics in synthetic biology. This review surveys the most significant achievements in designing motile cell-like compartments. In this context, strategies for self-propulsion are summarized, including, compartmentalization of catalytically active particles, phoretic propulsion of vesicles and emulsion droplet motion driven by Marangoni flows. This work showcases how the realization of motile protocells may impact biomedical engineering while also aiming at answering fundamental questions in locomotion of prebiotic cells.

A General Approach to Free-Standing Nanoassemblies via Acoustic Levitation Self-Assembly

ACS Nano ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 5243-5250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianqian Shi ◽  
Wenli Di ◽  
Dashen Dong ◽  
Lim Wei Yap ◽  
Lin Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Acoustic Levitation ◽  
Free Standing

Hemoperfusion Based on Artificial Cells for Aluminium and Iron Removal, Immunosorption, Fulminant Hepatic Failure, Uremia, Poisoning and Metabolic Assists

1986 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 285-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.M.S. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Fulminant Hepatic Failure ◽  
Hepatic Failure ◽  
Activated Charcoal ◽  
Exchange Resin ◽  
Ion Exchange Resin ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Volume Relationship ◽  
Charcoal Hemoperfusion

The author reviewed artificial cells and their applications in hemoperfusion for chronic renal failure, poisoning, fulminant hepatic failure, removal of aluminium and iron, and metabolic assists. Other areas reviewed included artificial cells containing enzymes, multienzymes, immunosorbents, cell cultures and other areas. Artificial cells can be formed as membrane coated adsorbent or microencapsulated adsorbent, enzymes and cells (1-3). The large surface to volume relationship and the ultrathin membrane of artificial cells allows the rapid equilibration of metabolites (1-3). Artificial cells containing enzymes, ion exchange resin and activated charcoal have been used for hemoperfusion (4). The microencapsulated or membrane coated absorbents, enzymes, cells, immunosorbents and other material are prevented from releasing unwanted material into the circulation and prevented from adverse effects on blood cells. Because of the problem of charcoal in releasing emboli and depleting platelets (5) we first developed coated activated charcoal hemoperfusion for clinical application (6, 7). This has been used extensively in clinical studies. The artificial cell approach has also been applied to a number of other hemoperfusion approaches. The lack of space only allows this paper to summarize some of the approaches originated from this research centre.

scholarly journals Protein synthesis in artificial cells: using compartmentalisation for spatial organisation in vesicle bioreactors

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 15534-15537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuval Elani ◽  
Robert V. Law ◽  
Oscar Ces
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Spatial Organisation ◽  
Artificial Cell

Spatially segregated in vitro protein expression in a vesicle-based artificial cell, with different proteins synthesised in defined vesicle regions.

scholarly journals An artificial cell containing cyanobacteria for endosymbiosis mimicking

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boyu Yang ◽  
Shubin Li ◽  
Wei Mu ◽  
Zhao Wang ◽  
Xiaojun Han
Keyword(s):  
Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Horseradish Peroxidase ◽  
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Glucose Dehydrogenase ◽  
Working Mechanism ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Amplex Red ◽  
Enzyme Cascade ◽  
Artificial Cell

AbstractThe bottom-up constructed artificial cells help to understand the cell working mechanism and provide the evolution clues for organisms. Cyanobacteria are believed to be the ancestors of chloroplasts according to endosymbiosis theory. Herein we demonstrate an artificial cell containing cyanobacteria to mimic endosymbiosis phenomenon. The cyanobacteria sustainably produce glucose molecules by converting light energy into chemical energy. Two downstream “metabolic” pathways starting from glucose molecules are investigated. One involves enzyme cascade reaction to produce H2O2 (assisted by glucose oxidase) first, followed by converting Amplex red to resorufin (assisted by horseradish peroxidase). The more biological one involves nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) production in the presence of NAD+ and glucose dehydrogenase. Further, NADH molecules are oxidized into NAD+ by pyruvate catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase, meanwhile, lactate is obtained. Therefore, the sustainable cascade cycling of NADH/NAD+ is built. The artificial cells built here simulate the endosymbiosis phenomenon, meanwhile pave the way for investigating more complicated sustainable energy supplied metabolism inside artificial cells.

scholarly journals Creation of Artificial Cell-Like Structures Promoted by Microfluidics Technologies

Micromachines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuke Sato ◽  
Masahiro Takinoue
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Sample Volume ◽  
Future Perspective ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Biological Phenomena ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Oil Emulsions

The creation of artificial cells is an immensely challenging task in science. Artificial cells contribute to revealing the mechanisms of biological systems and deepening our understanding of them. The progress of versatile biological research fields has clarified many biological phenomena, and various artificial cell models have been proposed in these fields. Microfluidics provides useful technologies for the study of artificial cells because it allows the fabrication of cell-like compartments, including water-in-oil emulsions and giant unilamellar vesicles. Furthermore, microfluidics also allows the mimicry of cellular functions with chip devices based on sophisticated chamber design. In this review, we describe contributions of microfluidics to the study of artificial cells. Although typical microfluidic methods are useful for the creation of artificial-cell compartments, recent methods provide further benefits, including low-cost fabrication and a reduction of the sample volume. Microfluidics also allows us to create multi-compartments, compartments with artificial organelles, and on-chip artificial cells. We discuss these topics and the future perspective of microfluidics for the study of artificial cells and molecular robotics.

Biomimetic artificial cells to model the effect of membrane asymmetry on chemoresistance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elanna B. Stephenson ◽  
Katherine S. Elvira
Keyword(s):  
Cell Models ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Microfluidic Platform ◽  
Membrane Asymmetry ◽  
Artificial Cell

We present a microfluidic platform that enables the formation of bespoke asymmetric droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) as artificial cell models from naturally-derived lipids. We use them to perform pharmacokinetic assays...

Controlled metabolic cascades for protein synthesis in an artificial cell

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huong Thanh Nguyen ◽  
Sungwoo Lee ◽  
Kwanwoo Shin
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Free Expression ◽  
Metabolic Reaction ◽  
Lipid Bilayer Membranes ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Bilayer Membranes ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Control Protein

In recent years, researchers have been pursuing a method to design and to construct life forms from scratch — in other words, to create artificial cells. In many studies, artificial cellular membranes have been successfully fabricated, allowing the research field to grow by leaps and bounds. Moreover, in addition to lipid bilayer membranes, proteins are essential factors required to construct any cellular metabolic reaction; for that reason, different cell-free expression systems under various conditions to achieve the goal of controlling the synthetic cascades of proteins in a confined area have been reported. Thus, in this review, we will discuss recent issues and strategies, enabling to control protein synthesis cascades that are being used, particularly in research on artificial cells.

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