Phagocytosis-inspired behaviour in synthetic protocell communities of compartmentalized colloidal objects
Source abstract
Abstract
The spontaneous assembly of micro-compartmentalized colloidal objects capable of controlled interactions offers a step towards rudimentary forms of collective behaviour in communities of artificial cell-like entities (synthetic protocells). Here we report a primitive form of artificial phagocytosis in a binary community of synthetic protocells in which multiple silica colloidosomes are selectively ingested by self-propelled magnetic Pickering emulsion (MPE) droplets comprising particle-free fatty acid-stabilized apertures. Engulfment of the colloidosomes enables selective delivery and release of water-soluble payloads, and can be coupled to enzyme activity within the MPE droplets. Our results highlight opportunities for the development of new materials based on consortia of colloidal objects, and provide a novel microscale engineering approach to inducing higher-order behaviour in mixed populations of synthetic protocells.
Source: europepmc · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization · Micro and Nano Robotics · Diffusion and Search Dynamics
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (34)
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