title: Self-Propelled Oil Droplets and Their Morphological Change to Giant Vesicles Induced by a Surfactant Solution at Low pH.
abstract: Unique dynamics using inanimate molecular assemblies based on soft matter have drawn much attention for demonstrating far-from-equilibrium chemical systems. However, there are no soft matter systems that exhibit a possible pathway linking the self-propelled oil droplets to formation of giant vesicles stimulated by low pH. In this study, we conceived an experimental oil-in-water emulsion system in which flocculated particles composed of a imine-containing oil transformed to spherical oil droplets that self-propelled and, after coming to rest, formed membranous figures. Finally, these figures became giant vesicles. From NMR, pH curves, and surface tension measurements, we determined that this far-from-equilibrium phenomenon was due to the acidic hydrolysis of the oil, which produced a benzaldehyde derivative as an oil component and a primary amine as a surfactant precursor, and the dynamic behavior of the hydrolytic products in the emulsion system. These findings afforded us a potential linkage between mobile droplet-based protocells and vesicle-based protocells stimulated by low pH.
authors: Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University , 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan.
authors: Taisuke
authors: T
authors: Banno
authors: Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo , 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.
authors: Yuki
authors: Y
authors: Tanaka
authors: Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University , 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan.
authors: Kouichi
authors: K
authors: Asakura
authors: Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo , 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.|Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency , 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
authors: Taro
authors: T
authors: Toyota