Comb Polyelectrolytes Stabilize Complex Coacervate Microdroplet Dispersions
Comb Polyelectrolytes Stabilize Complex Coacervate Microdroplet Dispersions
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DOI：
10.1021/acsmacrolett.2c00327
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发表时间：
2022-07-05
影响因子：
7.015
通讯作者：
Srivastava, Samanvaya
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Gao, Shang;Srivastava, Samanvaya
摘要：复杂凝聚层微滴是无膜隔室，可选择性地将生物分子与周围环境隔离并增强生物反应。然而，由于缺乏可行的策略来防止其不受控制的聚结，它们作为原始细胞模型和生物反应器的用途受到限制。在此，我们介绍了一种使用梳状聚电解质作为稳定剂来减轻复杂凝聚层微滴聚结的方法，从而产生具有数月稳定性的复杂凝聚层分散体。微滴尺寸和稳定性的可调性是通过调节梳状聚电解质浓度和分子量来实现的。重要的是，梳状聚电解质稳定凝聚微滴会自发地隔离并长时间保留蛋白质。此外，即使储存长达 48 小时，稳定的复合凝聚层分散体也能增强蛋白质的催化活性并显着（高达 10 倍）加速生物反应。我们的研究结果有望扩大复杂凝聚微滴作为人造原始细胞、封装剂和生物反应器的用途，并促进其在制药、农业、食品和化妆品配方中的使用。
ABSTRACT: Complex coacervate microdroplets are membraneless compartments that selectively sequester biological molecules from their surroundings and enhance bioreactions. Yet, their use as protocell models and bioreactors has been limited owing to a lack of feasible strategies to prevent their uncontrolled coalescence. Herein, we introduce an approach to mitigate coalescence of complex coacervate microdroplets using comb polyelectrolytes as stabilizers, creating complex coacervate dispersions with monthslong stabilities. Tunability of microdroplet size and stability is achieved by the regulation of comb polyelectrolyte concentration and molecular weight. Importantly, the comb polyelectrolytestabilized coacervate microdroplets spontaneously sequester and retain proteins over extended periods. Moreover, enhanced catalytic activity of proteins and significant (up to 10-fold) acceleration of bioreactions are achieved in stabilized complex coacervate dispersions, even when stored for up to 48 h. Our findings are expected to expand the utility of complex coacervate microdroplets as artificial protocells, encapsulants, and bioreactors and also facilitate their use in pharmaceutical, agricultural, food, and cosmetics formulations.