title: Biomimetic Hybrid Nanocontainers with Selective Permeability.
abstract: Chemistry plays a crucial role in creating synthetic analogues of biomacromolecular structures. Of particular scientific and technological interest are biomimetic vesicles that are inspired by natural membrane compartments and organelles but avoid their drawbacks, such as membrane instability and limited control over cargo transport across the boundaries. In this study, completely synthetic vesicles were developed from stable polymeric walls and easy-to-engineer membrane DNA nanopores. The hybrid nanocontainers feature selective permeability and permit the transport of organic molecules of 1.5 nm size. Larger enzymes (ca. 5 nm) can be encapsulated and retained within the vesicles yet remain catalytically active. The hybrid structures constitute a new type of enzymatic nanoreactor. The high tunability of the polymeric vesicles and DNA pores will be key in tailoring the nanocontainers for applications in drug delivery, bioimaging, biocatalysis, and cell mimicry.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H OAJ, UK.
authors: Lea
authors: L
authors: Messager
authors: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H OAJ, UK.
authors: Jonathan R
authors: JR
authors: Burns
authors: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H OAJ, UK.
authors: Jungyeon
authors: J
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H OAJ, UK.
authors: Denis
authors: D
authors: Cecchin
authors: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H OAJ, UK.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Hindley
authors: London Centre of Nanotechnology, 17-19 Gordon St, London, WC1H 0AH, UK.
authors: Alice L B
authors: AL
authors: Pyne
authors: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H OAJ, UK.
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Gaitzsch
authors: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H OAJ, UK. g.battaglia@ucl.ac.uk.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Battaglia
authors: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H OAJ, UK. s.howorka@ucl.ac.uk.
authors: Stefan
authors: 0000-0002-6527-2846
authors: S
authors: Howorka
keywords: DNA; enzymes; membranes; nanopores; nanotechnology; polymersomes