Single living cell encapsulation in nano-organized polyelectrolyte shells

Single living yeast cells have been encapsulated by the alternate adsorption of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. Exploiting fluorescence techniques, we provide evidence of the shell and cell integrity after the coating procedure. The most relevant result, however, is that, after encapsulation, cells preserve their metabolic activities and they are still able to divide. These hybrid polyelectrolyte cells can provide a cheap model system in a wide range of biophysical and biotechnological applications, thanks to the tunable properties of the polyelectrolyte shell.