Triggered polymersome fusion

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c13049

Authors: Stephen D. P. Fielden (University of Birmingham) , Matthew J. Derry (Aston University) , Alisha J. Miller (University of Birmingham) , Paul D. Topham (Aston University) , Rachel K. O'Reilly (University of Birmingham)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Journal Of The American Chemical Society , VOL 3

State: Published (Approved)
Published: March 2023
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 28511

Abstract: The contents of biological cells are retained within compartments formed of phospholipid membranes. The movement of material within and between cells is often mediated by the fusion of phospholipid membranes, which allows mixing of contents or excretion of material into the surrounding environment. Biological membrane fusion is a highly regulated process that is catalyzed by proteins and often triggered by cellular signaling. In contrast, the controlled fusion of polymer-based membranes is largely unexplored, despite the potential application of this process in nanomedicine, smart materials, and reagent trafficking. Here, we demonstrate triggered polymersome fusion. Out-of-equilibrium polymersomes were formed by ring-opening metathesis polymerization-induced self-assembly and persist until a specific chemical signal (pH change) triggers their fusion. Characterization of polymersomes was performed by a variety of techniques, including dynamic light scattering, dry-state/cryogenic-transmission electron microscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The fusion process was followed by time-resolved SAXS analysis. Developing elementary methods of communication between polymersomes, such as fusion, will prove essential for emulating life-like behaviors in synthetic nanotechnology.

Subject Areas: Chemistry, Biology and Bio-materials, Engineering


Instruments: I22-Small angle scattering & Diffraction

Added On: 07/03/2023 14:49

Documents:
jacs.2c13049.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Biotechnology Biochemistry Chemistry Engineering & Technology Life Sciences & Biotech

Technical Tags:

Scattering Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS)