Tag: biomimetic materials chemistry

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Coacervate Vesicles as Adaptive Platforms for Synthetic Biology and Smart Materials

Our latest concept paper, published in Chemistry-A European Journal, introduces Coacervate Vesicles as a new class of protocells that combine the functionalities of complex coacervates with the robustness of membranised architectures. These novel artificial cells offer enhanced compartmentalisation and stability, opening up exciting possibilities in areas ranging from bio-inspired systems to drug delivery and synthetic …

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A Photonastic Prototissue Capable of Photo-Mechano-Chemical Transduction

The Gobbo Group has created the first light-responsive artificial tissues-like materials, or photonastic prototissues, that can mimic natural energy transduction processes. Published in Advanced Materials, the work combines gold nanoparticle-based proto-organelles and a responsive polymer “proto-cortex” to build protocells that contract under visible light. These motions can reversibly control internal enzyme activity, offering a new way to engineer life-like behaviours. This advance marks a significant step towards advanced, energy-responsive prototissues in synthetic biology and bioinspired materials engineering.

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Programmed Fabrication of Vesicle-Based Prototissue Fibers with Modular Functionalities

Our research team has achieved a breakthrough in creating artificial tissue-like structures, termed "prototissue fibers," inspired by natural cell cooperation. Published in Advanced Science, this work, involving collaboration with Prof. Taisuke Banno's group, utilized vesicles and salt bridges to form these fibers, enabling the integration of specialized modules. These innovations allow for customizable soft materials, enhancing fields like 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering, and soft robotics. This significant advancement addresses key challenges in prototissue engineering, paving the way for bioinspired material development.

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Matching Together Living Cells and Prototissues: Will There Be

This review in ChemBioChem examines the interactions between synthetic cells, tissues, and living counterparts, aiming for full integration. It discusses advancements in synthetic/living cells interactions, prototissue engineering, and stimuli-driven tissue engineering, paving the way for future studies in tissue engineering, synthetic biology, and regenerative medicine. The work was funded by the European Union and Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza.

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Higher-order Behaviours in Bio-inspired Materials

This mini-review, published in ChemSystemsChem, introduces the concept of higher-order behavior in materials chemistry, discussing the development of such behaviors in bio-inspired systems like polymer networks, microbots, protocells, and prototissues. It emphasizes the ability to chemically program these materials and their potential applications in various fields, from tissue engineering to regenerative medicine. The work was funded by the European Union (ERC StG, PROTOMAT, 101039578; Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship, PROTO-BACT, 101107715).

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A Photo-degradable Crosslinker for the Development of Light-responsive Protocell Membranes

Patrick's and Mary's PhD works are now published as a Chem. Eur. J. research article! In this work we developed a novel photo-degradable crosslinker and used it to fabricate protein-polymer microcapsules. We then showed that these protein-polymer microcapsules are capable of light-induced disassembly, could be used for the photo-generation of patterns of synthetic cells, and for the modulation of synthetic cell membrane permeability.

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Protocell Communication Through the Eyes of Synthetic Organic Chemists

Our Concept Article was just published in EurJOC. The article discusses the concept of protocell communication from the point of view of organic chemists. First, it analyses the chemistry at the heart of the protocell communication machineries currently employed, and then it proposed new routes towards protocell communication based on fully synthetic and artificial nanosystems (synzymes). The work was funded by the European Union (ERC StG, PROTOMAT, 101039578).

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Colloidosomes as a Protocell Model: Engineering Life-Like Behaviour through Organic Chemistry

Colloidosomes are robust, versatile microcapsules that have emerged as promising candidates for protocell models. Read our just published review that highlights the role of organic chemistry in the engineering of colloidosomes with life-like behaviours, such as selective membrane permeability, adhesion, chemical signalling, dynamic multi-compartmentalisation, replication, and predation.