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

The concept of artificial cells, or protocells, serves to provide researchers with deeper insights into primitive cellular functions and behaviours through the study of non-living cellular analogues. Protocells are synthetic, cell-like microcompartments designed to mimic key aspects of living cells. Recently, Dr. Pierangelo Gobbo made a remarkable step forward in this research field and utilized biocompatible click chemistry (clean and simple chemical reactions with minimal purification required) to assemble protocells into tissue-like constructs, termed prototissues. These chemically-interlinked prototissues displayed collective temperature-regulated contractibility and expansion. Most importantly, his work opened up the first synthetic route to the synthesis of tissues-like materials capable of collective behaviours. Among the different protocell models, inorganic protocells are receiving increasing attention because they can offer relevant benefits compared to their biological counterparts such as increased chemical, thermal and mechanical robustness. While inorganic protocells have been prepared from silica nanoparticles or magnetic nanoparticles, the use of functional gold nanoparticles (AuNP) remains essentially unexplored. In recent years the Workentin Group demonstrated that the AuNP surface can be engineered to undergo a plethora of surface biocompatible click reactions to add function to these materials. TO BE CON’T

Faculty Supervisor:

Mark Workentin

Student:

Partner:

University of Bristol

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Nanotechnology; Biotechnology; Life Sciences (not health)

University:

Western University

Program: