title: Bilayer Networks within a Hydrogel Shell: A Robust Chassis for Artificial Cells and a Platform for Membrane Studies.
abstract: The ability to make artificial lipid bilayers compatible with a wide range of environments, and with sufficient structural rigidity for manual handling, would open up a wealth of opportunities for their more routine use in real-world applications. Although droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) have been demonstrated in a host of laboratory applications, from chemical logic to biosynthesis reaction vessels, their wider use is hampered by a lack of mechanical stability and the largely manual methods employed in their production. Multiphase microfluidics has enabled us to construct hierarchical triple emulsions with a semipermeable shell, in order to form robust, bilayer-bound, droplet networks capable of communication with their external surroundings. These constructs are stable in air, water, and oil environments and overcome a critical obstacle of achieving structural rigidity without compromising environmental interaction. This paves the way for practical application of artificial membranes or droplet networks in diverse areas such as medical applications, drug testing, biophysical studies and their use as synthetic cells.
authors.affiliation: College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Divesh K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Baxani
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, Cardiff University, 14-17 The Parade, CF4 3AA, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Alex J L
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.affiliation: College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Allender
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, Cardiff University, 14-17 The Parade, CF4 3AA, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Barrow
authors.affiliation: College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, UK. CastellO@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Oliver K
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6059-8062
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Castell
keywords: lipid bilayers; membranes; microfluidics; proteins; protocells