On-site assembly of the actin cortex in semi-synthetic cells to control cell mechanics and behaviour

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Can we engineer semi-synthetic cells that can alter their global mechanical properties on-demand, in response to external stimuli? Can we link these mechanical properties to downstream protocellular 'behaviours' that are relevant to therapeutic and biotechnological applications? This project aims to address these questions using a cellular bionics approach. By intermingling both biological and synthetic components, an actin cortex will be manufactured within vesicle-based synthetic cells in response to light in the IR range. The cortex will be disassembled in response to light in the UV range. This allows the cell to dynamically switch between mechanically distinct states (i.e. different rigidities and viscosities), with spatiotemporal control. Coupling cell biomechanics to different behaviours, in this case the cell's ability to squeeze through constrictions under flow, will be investigated using a microfluidic device. This project will first require an understanding of the effect of the actin cortex on cell mechanics to be developed using molecular rotors and flickering analysis. These insights will then allow us to controllably engineer the stimuli-responsive systems.