Interfacial energy-mediated bulk transport across artificial cell membranes

Abstract

The construction of synthetic cells that exhibit some of the complex behaviors of biological cells is a fundamental challenge. A major bottleneck is the transport of substances across the artificial cell membrane barrier, which is important for maintaining intracellular biochemical reactions and metabolism. To address this challenge, we develop a strategy of interfacial energy-mediated bulk transport across liposomal membranes. By control over interfacial tensions, unilamellar liposomes can reversibly engulf and excrete microdroplets, revealing rudimentary forms of life-like behaviors. We demonstrate that the bulk transmembrane transport can be regulated by diverse environmental stimuli, such as solvent evaporation, temperature and osmotic pressure, and coupled with the transport of biomolecules, including enzyme substrates, ions and DNA molecules. Our results highlight a general mechanism for intricate membrane dynamics and remodeling, offering opportunities for the development of high-order cell-like characteristics in synthetic cells, micro-robots and drug carriers. Controllable and reversible transmembrane transport is a fundamental challenge in building synthetic cells. Here, interfacial energy-mediated bulk transport across artificial cell membranes is developed to mimic a rudimentary form of endocytosis- and exocytosis-like behaviors, facilitating the shuttling of biomolecules such as enzyme substrates, ions and nucleic acids.