Biomimetic behaviors in hydrogel artificial cells through embedded organelles.

ABSTRACT: Artificial cells are biomimetic structures formed from molecular building blocks that replicate biological processes, behaviors, and architectures. Of these building blocks, hydrogels have emerged as ideal, yet underutilized candidates to provide a gel-like chassis in which to incorporate both biological and nonbiological componentry which enables the replication of cellular functionality. Here, we demonstrate a microfluidic strategy to assemble biocompatible cell-sized hydrogel-based artificial cells with a variety of different embedded functional subcompartments, which act as engineered synthetic organelles. The organelles enable the recreation of increasingly biomimetic behaviors, including stimulus-induced motility, content release through activation of membrane-associated proteins, an

SUBMITTER: Allen ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10466294 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature