Abstract
New technologies for manipulating biomembranes have vast potential to aid the understanding of biological phenomena, and as tools to sculpt novel artificial cell architectures for synthetic biology. The manipulation and fusion of vesicles using optical traps is amongst the most promising due to the level of spatiotemporal control it affords. Herein, we conduct a suite of feasibility studies to show the potential of optical trapping technologies to (i) modulate the lipid composition of a vesicle by delivering new membrane material through fusion events and (ii) manipulate and controllably fuse coexisting membrane domains for the first time. We also outline some noteworthy morphologies and transitions that the vesicle undergoes during fusion, which gives us insight into the mechanisms at play. These results will guide future exploitation of laser-assisted membrane manipulation methods and feed into a technology roadmap for this emerging technology.
Highlights
Cell membranes are universal biological motifs that define cellular boundaries
Membrane fusion is being deployed in synthetic biology, to initiate protein synthesis in artificial cells through the delivery of genetic material [12] and in the creation of artificial cells that are capable of growing over time by subsuming new membrane material [13]
We have conducted a series of feasibility experiments to demonstrate the potential of laser-assisted membrane manipulation
Summary
Cell membranes are universal biological motifs that define cellular boundaries. They allow for cells to compartmentalise content, control the influx/efflux of materials, and they act as a surface on which biochemical reactions occur. Bioengineers are increasingly exploiting this phenomenon, with synthetic membrane fusion events playing key roles in liposomal drug delivery [5], cell-like microreactors [6,7], cell transfection [8], the creation of cell hybrids for vaccine generation [9], and for therapeutic applications [10,11]. Membrane fusion is being deployed in synthetic biology, to initiate protein synthesis in artificial cells through the delivery of genetic material [12] and in the creation of artificial cells that are capable of growing over time by subsuming new membrane material [13]
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