Measuring encapsulation efficiency in cell-mimicking giant unilamellar vesicles
File(s)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
One of the main drivers within the field of bottom-up synthetic biology is to develop artificial chemical machines, perhaps even living systems, that have programmable functionality. Numerous toolkits exist to generate giant unilamellar vesicle-based artificial cells. However, methods able to quantitatively measure their molecular constituents upon formation is an underdeveloped area. We report an artificial cell quality control (AC/QC) protocol using a microfluidic-based single-molecule approach, enabling the absolute quantification of encapsulated biomolecules. While the measured average encapsulation efficiency was 11.4 ± 6.8%, the AC/QC method allowed us to determine encapsulation efficiencies per vesicle, which varied significantly from 2.4 to 41%. We show that it is possible to achieve a desired concentration of biomolecule within each vesicle by commensurate compensation of its concentration in the seed emulsion. However, the variability in encapsulation efficiency suggests caution is necessary when using such vesicles as simplified biological models or standards.
Date Issued
2023-03-28
Date Acceptance
2023-03-01
Citation
ACS Synthetic Biology, 2023, 12 (4), pp.1227-1238
ISSN
2161-5063
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Start Page
1227
End Page
1238
Journal / Book Title
ACS Synthetic Biology
Volume
12
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society. This publication is licensed under
CC-BY 4.0.
CC-BY 4.0.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000972971900001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=a2bf6146997ec60c407a63945d4e92bb
Subjects
ABSOLUTE QUANTIFICATION
Biochemical Research Methods
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
FUSION
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
LIPOSOMES
MICROARRAYS
POLYMER ENCAPSULATION
PROTEIN COPY NUMBER
Science & Technology
SELECTION
SIZE
SYSTEMS
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2023-03-28