Self-Assembly of Nanocluster-based Colloidosomes via Click Chemistry for the Formation of Inorganic Prototissues

Protocells are synthetic, cell-like microcompartments designed to mimic key aspects of living cells to provide researchers with deeper insights into primitive cellular functions and behaviours. This research project is aimed to design and synthesize functional polymer coated gold nanoparticles and clusters (AuNP and AuNCs) that are capable of self-assembly into gold inorganic functional colloidosomes. The photo-responsive nature of AuNPs allows for the conversion of light into localized heat through surface plasmon resonances. The localized heat triggers the lower critical solution temperature of the thermo-responsive polymers coating the AuNPs to control the permeability of the protocells. AuNPs are electrochemically addressable and may lead to electro-responsive protocells. These protocells can then be covalently cross-linked into tissue-like constructs, termed prototissues, capable of collective photo-regulated contractability that can be enzymatically modulated.

Faculty Supervisor:

Mark Workentin

Student:

Partner:

University of Trieste

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Biotechnology; Life Sciences (not health); Nanotechnology

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program: