Journal
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
Volume 9, Issue 29, Pages 25023-25028Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b05800
Keywords
aqueous two phase system (ATPS); interfacial complexation; double emulsion; colloidosome; protocell; polyelectrolytes; layer-by-layer
Funding
- NSF [DMR-1120901, CBET-1604536]
- Directorate For Engineering
- Div Of Chem, Bioeng, Env, & Transp Sys [1604536] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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Living cells exploit compartmentalization within organelles to spatially and temporally control reactions and pathways. Here, we use the all aqueous two phase system (ATPS) of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and dextran to develop all water emulsion bodies, AWE-somes, a new class of encapsulated double emulsions as potential cell mimics. AWE-somes feature rigid polyelectrolyte (PE)/nanoparticle (NP) shells and double emulsion interiors. The shells form via complexation of PE and NP at interfaces of ATPS. The NPs, excluded from the drop phase, create an osmotic stress imbalance that removes water from the encapsulated phase and draws droplets of external PEG phase into the shells to form the double emulsion interior. We demonstrate that molecules can permeate the AWE-some shells, selectively partition into the internal droplets, and undergo reaction. AWE-somes have significant potential for creating functional, biocompatible protocell systems.
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