Hierarchical Self-Assembly of a Copolymer-Stabilized Coacervate Protocell.

ABSTRACT: Complex coacervate microdroplets are finding increased utility in synthetic cell applications due to their cytomimetic properties. However, their intrinsic membrane-free nature results in instability that limits their application in protocell research. Herein, we present the development of a new protocell model through the spontaneous interfacial self-assembly of copolymer molecules on biopolymer coacervate microdroplets. This hierarchical protocell model not only incorporates the favorable properties of coacervates (such as spontaneous assembly and macromolecular condensation) but also assimilates the essential features of a semipermeable copolymeric membrane (such as discretization and stabilization). This was accomplished by engineering an asymmetric, biodegradable triblock copolymer mo

SUBMITTER: Mason AF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5724030 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature