Light energy transduction in liposome-based artificial cells

In this work we review the latest strategies for the bottom-up assembly of energetically autonomous artificial cells capable of transducing light energy into chemical energy and support internalized metabolic pathways. Such entities are built by taking inspiration from the photosynthetic machineries found in nature which are purified and reconstituted directly in the membrane of artificial compartments or encapsulated in form of organelle-like structures. Specifically, we report and discuss recent examples based on liposome-technology and multi-compartment (nested) architectures pointing out the importance of this matter for the artificial cell synthesis research field and some limitations and perspectives of the bottom-up approach.

Automated summary

In this work, we review the latest strategies for assembling energetically autonomous artificial cells that can convert light energy into chemical energy and support internal metabolic pathways. The artificial cells are inspired by photosynthetic machineries found in nature and are either directly reconstituted in the membrane of artificial compartments or encapsulated in organelle-like structures. We report recent examples based on liposome technology and multi-compartment architectures, highlighting their importance in the field of artificial cell synthesis research, as well as discussing some limitations and future perspectives of the bottom-up approach.