Abstract
AbstractCollective behaviour in mixed populations of synthetic protocells is an unexplored area of bottom‐up synthetic biology. The dynamics of a model protocell community is exploited to modulate the function and higher‐order behaviour of mixed populations of bioinorganic protocells in response to a process of artificial phagocytosis. Enzyme‐loaded silica colloidosomes are spontaneously engulfed by magnetic Pickering emulsion (MPE) droplets containing complementary enzyme substrates to initiate a range of processes within the host/guest protocells. Specifically, catalase, lipase, or alkaline phosphatase‐filled colloidosomes are used to trigger phagocytosis‐induced buoyancy, membrane reconstruction, or hydrogelation, respectively, within the MPE droplets. The results highlight the potential for exploiting surface‐contact interactions between different membrane‐bounded droplets to transfer and co‐locate discrete chemical packages (artificial organelles) in communities of synthetic protocells.
Highlights
Collective behaviour in mixed populations of synthetic protocells is an unexplored area of bottom-up synthetic biology
Enzymeloaded silica colloidosomes are spontaneously engulfed by magnetic Pickering emulsion (MPE) droplets containing complementary enzyme substrates to initiate a range of processes within the host/guest protocells
Engulfment of the silica colloidosomes through the apertures was associated with the formation of a surface-adsorbed oleate bilayer, which was facilitated by maintaining a pH within the MPE droplets close to the fatty acid pKa (9.8).[30]
Summary
Collective behaviour in mixed populations of synthetic protocells is an unexplored area of bottom-up synthetic biology. We prepared lipase-containing silica colloidosomes, added them to a population of MPEs dispersed in a dodecane solution of a triglyceride (triolein), and investigated whether enzymemediated hydrolysis of triolein within the colloidosomes and concomitant release of surface-active agents (mono/diacyl glycerols, oleic acid) could induce the opening of apertures in the shell of initially intact MPE droplets (Figure 2 a).
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